Panthers owner David Tepper dismissed Frank Reich on Monday, making it two straight years he’s fired a head coach in-season. But Tepper told reporters Tuesday that he doesn’t lack patience, arguing he wants his next hire to last for “20 or 30 years.” He also defended Bryce Young as the team’s No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, despite the rookie quarterback’s weekly struggles.
“Quite frankly,” Tepper said, “if I had my druthers, I’d like to have a coach here for 20 years or 30 years, you know, if I can do that. … I do have patience. My reputation away from this game is one for extreme patience. Now, that patience comes with good performance and things (where) progress (is being) made. I would like to have somebody here for 20 years, 30 years. I’d like to have somebody that would say (a) eulogy at my funeral in 30 years. OK, maybe it’s 40 years, I hope.”
Reich, who replaced Matt Rhule last offseason, lasted just 11 games atop the staff, going 1-10. He’s the third different coach to be fired by Tepper before the end of the season, with Ron Rivera also exiting in-season in 2019, Tepper’s second year of ownership.
Asked Tuesday if his quick trigger on coaches could make it harder to hire a qualified replacement, he disagreed.
“No,” Tepper said, suggesting that each of his three firings were “different situations.”
“Look, things are constantly evolving,” he explained, “and they’ll continue to evolve. Obviously that record’s not good enough. We’re gonna self-reflect and make it better. … I sit in that box, and we live and die with every play. So I understand the fans, I understand the frustration. I can just say this: We will make it better. I’m not promising it’s gonna happen tomorrow, but it may.”
Amid reports that Reich preferred Texans star C.J. Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, over Young, Tepper also denied as much, arguing Young’s selection was “unanimous” among Panthers…
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Author : Cody Benjamin
Publish date : 2023-11-28 16:29:10
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