Frank Reich might be finished in the NFL after getting fired for a second consecutive season.
Panthers owner David Tepper announced Reich’s firing on Monday, as the team was 1-10 in the first season of the coach’s tenure.
Reich spoke to Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer and acknowledged that he might be done coaching professional football.
“This is probably the final chapter of my NFL journey,” Reich said.
This could potentially be an expensive admission from Reich.
While the specific details of his contract are unknown, many head coaching contracts contain offset language that requires the coaches to pursue gainful employment after being dismissed in order to collect the full amount of their deals.
Reich was head coach of the Colts from 2018 through the middle of last season, and was the offensive coordinator of the Eagles and Chargers in his two jobs immediately before that.
In his interview with the Charlotte Observer, he expressed regrets that his Panthers tenure was not more successful.
“There’s a heart-pounding disappointment in not hitting the marks that we needed to hit to keep this going and try to get it turned around,” Reich said. “It hurts me for the guys, the team, the coaches and the fans.”
While a number of social media users have been blaming Tepper for the Panthers’ instability, Reich took the high road.
“I want to convey that I have nothing but positive thoughts about Mr. Tepper,” Reich said.
“On a personal level, I saw a side of him that I deeply respect and care about. But the NFL is a meritocracy. It’s not unconditional love. I understand from a professional standpoint Mr. Tepper is going to have certain standards that he expects to have met. I have no hard feelings, and my personal relationship with him was actually a real highlight of this short time.”
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