Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich called a bye week handoff, reportedly tossing play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown.
Reich reportedly informed players about the change on Monday after the Panthers fell to 0-6 with Sunday’s 42-21 loss to the Miami Dolphins, multiple outlets reported.
NFL Network reported Reich made the decision now to give Brown time to formulate his plan for the team’s post-bye, Week 8 game on Oct. 29. The matchup pits the Panthers and No. 1 pick Bryce Young against the Houston Texans, who drafted C.J. Stroud No. 2 overall.
Brown, 37, is in his first year with Carolina. He spent the previous three seasons under Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams, coaching running backs and tight ends and serving as assistant head coach in 2021 and 2022.
Brown was the offensive coordinator and running backs coach for the Miami Hurricanes from 2016-18.
Reich, 61, said back when he was hired last winter that he would eventually turn over the responsibility for calling plays.
Brown called the plays during the second half of Carolina’s preseason games.
“I thought he did a great job. It came very easy to him,” Reich stated back in August. “He’s been doing it. The whole OTAs and training camp when we go two-minute, you know, I’m just having him call everything. He’s doing a great job. He’s a natural. He really is. Very quick-minded. If you know Thomas, you know he’s very decisive and he does call his plays with conviction. I think this is a great experience for him.”
Reich called the plays during his four-plus seasons as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2018-22.
With Young at quarterback, the Panthers have gained more than 350 yards of offense in only one game this season.
–Field Level Media