The Carolina Panthers have parted ways with head coach Frank Reich. But it didn’t have to come to this – a commentary.

October 10, 2022! The Carolina Panthers fire their head coach Matt Rhule after a 1-4 start to the season. Also because Rhule had already finished the previous season with a record of five wins and twelve losses. And the year before that with 5-11.

There was clearly a recognizable pattern: a negative one!

After that, the Panthers actually do everything right! Steve Wilks, previously defensive back coach, takes over on an interim basis until the end of the season! And quite successfully.

With quarterbacks PJ Walker, Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, he has a record of six wins and just as many defeats in the last twelve games of the season.

In a total of two and a half seasons, predecessor Rhule managed just five more wins.

And Wilks almost led the franchise to the playoffs. Only the loss to Tampa Bay in week 17 prevented the sensation.

Tepper opted for Reich instead of Wilks

It was the beginning of the end. The end of Wilks’ coaching career with the Panthers. And the beginning of a series of defeats. Because team owner David Tepper decided against the player favorite Wilks after the season and opted for Frank Reich as the new head coach.

A coach who was sacked by his employer, the Indianapolis Colts, just a few weeks ago this season.

An incomprehensible decision, especially in view of the number one draft pick with which the Panthers were supposed to select Bryce Young, as Wilks has always shown himself to be a coach close to the players.

Wilks on course for Super Bowl with 49ers

Numerous players expressed their regrets after the announcement. For example, future NFL Hall-of-Famer Julius Peppers wrote, “Steve Wilks deserves another chance to be a head coach again someday, and I believe he will get that chance. I’m disappointed it wasn’t with my home team, but everything happens for a reason. “

Maybe that reason is that Wilks could win the Super Bowl this year. With the San Francisco 49ers, who he joined as defensive coordinator after the season.

Reich was never a quarterback whisperer

And Frank Reich? He was never really able to establish a starting quarterback in four and a half years with the Colts and had to rely primarily on the run game and a strong defense.

After Andrew Luck’s career ended, Jacoby Brissett, Brian Hoyer, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan and Sam Ehlinger all started under him. He wasn’t a real quarterback whisperer for any of them.

So it is all the more incomprehensible that the Panthers chose him before the season instead of “Players Guy” Wilks. Frank Reich’s departure from the Panthers was an avoidable decision