Carolina Panthers Coaching Staff Tracker
Over the next few weeks, new Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich will piece together his coaching staff.
To keep up to date on all of the moves Reich makes with his staff and what roles need to be filled, we created a one-stop shop for you with the coaching tracker. Below you will find the latest news and reports involving Carolina's staff.
Note: Roles/names in bold are reportedly filled positions.
Offensive Coordinator - Thomas Brown
Since entering the NFL with the Rams in 2020, Brown has climbed his way up the ladder very quickly. He earned the assistant head coach tag to his title in just year two with the franchise and moved from running backs to tight ends in year three.
Prior to arriving in L.A., Brown was the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Miami (FL) from 2016-18.
With this hire, it is likely that head coach Frank Reich will call the shots on offense given that Brown does not have any prior experience coordinating at this level.
Defensive Coordinator - Ejiro Evero
Evero was one of nine candidates the Panthers interviewed for the head coaching job. He impressed the Panthers' front office and is highly regarded as one of the top young coordinators in the NFL. In 2022, the Broncos' defense, under Evero, finished 12th in pass defense (210.2 ypg), 10th in rush defense (109.8 ypg), 7th in total defense (320 ypg), and 14th in scoring defense (21.1 ppg).
Special Teams Coordinator - Chris Tabor
Tabor made a significant difference in Carolina's special teams unit in 2022, jumping the unit from 28th to 4th in Rick Gosselin's annual special teams rankings. Punter Johnny Hekker averaged a career-high 48.5 yards per punt and had 39 punts downed inside the 20. Kicker Eddy Pineiro signed with the team just before the start of the season to replace the injured Zane Gonzalez and was money all year, especially after missing a couple of key kicks in the road game in Atlanta. Pineiro finished the season 33/35 (94%) on field goals and 30/32 (93%) on extra points.
Senior Assistant - Jim Caldwell
Caldwell was the first candidate to interview for the Panthers' head coaching job and becomes the second candidate to have joined Reich's staff after interviewing for the head job, joining defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
Caldwell is a well-respected coach in the NFL thanks to what he has done with guys such as Peyton Manning (Colts), Joe Flacco (Ravens), and Matthew Stafford (Lions). In his two stints as a head coach, Caldwell combined to go 62-50, including taking the Colts to a Super Bowl in his first season on the job in 2009. For an organization that has struggled on the offensive side of the ball, particularly at quarterback, it makes sense to add Caldwell.
Quarterbacks - Josh McCown
McCown begins his NFL coaching career with the Panthers as the quarterbacks coach. This isn't the first time he's coached in the Queen City though. He was an assistant coach at Myers Park High School a few years ago when his sons were in the program. He's gained a lot of interest over the past couple of years to become an assistant coach at the NFL level and even interviewed for the Houston Texans head coaching job last offseason before the team hired Lovie Smith.
Passing Game Coordinator - Parks Frazier
Frazier, 31, got his start in the NFL as an "assistant to the head coach" in 2018 for Frank Reich in Indianapolis. In 2020, he moved into an offensive quality control position and then to an assistant quarterbacks coach in 2021.
Reich and Frazier developed a family-like bond during their time together in Indy. So close that Reich actually served as the officiant for Frazier's wedding in 2021.
Following Reich's firing, Frazier was promoted to interim offensive coordinator and called the plays for the Colts offense for the remainder of the 2022 season. Frazier won't be calling the shots in Carolina, but he will have an influence on what they do.
Running Backs - Duce Staley (also Asst. Head Coach)
Reich and Staley spent two seasons together with the Eagles (2016-17) and were on staff together for the Super Bowl team that defeated Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Detroit ranked 18th in rushing yards per game (110.9) the year before Staley arrived. This season, the Lions jumped up to 11th averaging 128.2 yards per game.
Wide Receivers - Shawn Jefferson
Jefferson has worked in the NFL since 2006, where he got his start with the Detroit Lions, an organization he spent seven years with. He worked with one of the best receivers of this century in Calvin Johnson from 2007-12. Most recently, Jefferson was the receivers coach in Arizona where he got to coach up DeAndre Hopkins.
Tight Ends
Offensive Line - James Campen
The line was a complete and utter mess in 2021, some of which was due to the several combinations they had to throw out there because of injuries. That said, even when fully healthy, it wasn't a group that played very well. That all changed when Campen came to town, helping set the tone with the running game which ultimately played a big part in the Panthers finding their identity during their chase for the playoffs.
Offensive Line Assistant - Robert Kugler
Defensive Line - Todd Wash
Wash has been coaching defensive line in the NFL since 2008 and also has five years of coordinating experience. Over the past two years, he served as the d-line coach for the Detroit Lions on Dan Campbell's staff. In his two years on the job, the Lions struggled to stop the run and getting after the quarterback, ranking in the bottom half of the league in both categories. Much of that is personnel driven, though. He had two top-10 finishes in rushing defense during his two years in Seattle and had two defenses finish in the top-10 in sacks per game while in Jacksonville. You could make the argument that this group he will takeover in Carolina is the most talent he has worked with.
Defensive Line Assistant
Linebackers - Peter Hansen
Hansen was the first hire on Ejiro Evero's defensive staff, following him to Carolina from Denver. He's been coaching the linebacker position since 2014, having done so at Stanford for six years before taking over as the defensive coordinator/LB coach at UNLV.
Outside Linebackers - Tem Lukabu
This past season, the Boston College Eagles finished 5th in the ACC in passing defense allowing 211.2 ypg, 13th in rushing defense (167.4 ypg), and 13th in scoring defense (30.3) under Lukabu. In 2021, Lukabu and BC boasted one of the best defenses in the league, finishing 4th in total defense (343.8 ypg), 1st in passing defense (173.5 ypg), 9th in rushing defense (170.3 ypg), and 3rd in scoring defense (22.2 ppg).
Lukabu does have five years of NFL experience, but only one year of leading a position group, which came during the 2019 season with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Defensive Backs - Jonathan Cooley
Cooley spent the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. He joined the organization in 2020 as a defensive assistant/quality control coach and then transitioned into the defensive backs coach this past season.
In his lone season as a position coach, the Rams allowed 226 passing yards per game, 6.9 yards per attempt, and a completion percentage of 67.4%. Those three statistics ranked in the bottom half of the league, but it doesn't tell the whole story. L.A. was hampered with injuries all season long, including losing defensive lineman Aaron Donald for six games which impacted their ability to get after the passer.
But it wasn't all bad. Cooley's unit ranked fifth in opponents passer rating (83.8), third in interceptions (19), and did not allow any quarterback to throw for over 300 net yards.
Defensive Backs Assistant - DeAngelo Hall
Want instant respect and credibility in a position coach who has no prior experience? Hire a three-time Pro Bowler. During his 14 years in the league, Hall recorded 814 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 43 interceptions, 141 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, and 15 fumble recoveries. He made the Pro Bowl in 2005, 2006, and 2010.
Safeties - Bert Watts
Watts has coached at several different levels including high school, FCS, FBS, NFL, and even internationally. He spent last season with Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero in Denver as the outside linebackers coach. Although he only has two years of coaching in the NFL, he is well-respected around the league.
Senior Defensive Assistant - Dom Capers
How cool is this? The first-ever head coach in Panthers' franchise history has returned to assist defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, whom he worked with in Denver this past season. Capers is one of the most respected defensive minds in the NFL and brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. He'll turn 73 in August, but still has a burning passion for the game.
Special Teams Assistant - Devin Fitzsimmons
Fitzsimmons has worked with special teams units for nearly a decade in the NFL and will now get the opportunity to work alongside one of of the best coordinators in the league in Chris Tabor.
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