The Carolina Panthers are shaking things up in an attempt to turn around their disappointing season. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Panthers’ head coach Frank Reich will hand over the play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown.
Reich reportedly informed the players about his decision on Monday. The Panthers are on a bye in Week 7, meaning that Brown will get his play-calling debut in Week 8 against the Texas Rangers.
Reich said during the offseason that he intends to give up the play-calling duties to Brown at some point. He probably didn’t plan to do it after only six games, but it appears to be as good a moment as any, considering the struggles the Panthers have had on offense.
Aside from being winless to start the season, the Panthers are yet to see their rookie quarterback Bryce Young take control of the offense in the way they hoped when they selected him with the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Young is completing 63.2% of his passes while throwing for 967 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions in his first year as a pro.
Thomas Brown is well-respected around the league and has a reputation for being a bright offensive mind. After working in college football for a decade, Brown joined the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 as a running backs coach. He became an assistant head coach the following season and held the role for two years before joining the Panthers.
Brown doesn’t have a lot of play-calling experience either on a college or professional level. The only time he called plays was during parts of the Panthers’ preseason games.
