Next Carolina Panthers NFL head coach odds: Ben Johnson, Mike Macdonald, Jim Harbaugh favored to replace fired Frank Reich in 2024

NFL history was made this morning, but not the type of history that Frank Reich would want as he was fired as head coach of the NFL-worst 1-10 Carolina Panthers. The move came just a year after Reich was also canned midseason by the Indianapolis Colts. Reich has thus become the first coach in NFL history since the merger to be fired in back-to-back seasons. SportsLine offers odds on who the next full-time Panthers coach will be.

There have only been six NFL head coaches since the merger that didn't finish their first season with their team, with three of those instances having come in the last three seasons -- Urban Meyer with Jacksonville, Nathaniel Hackett with Denver and Reich, who lasted fewer games than both.

The match of Reich, considered an excellent offensive coach, and rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick, looked great on paper. But football isn't played on paper. The team's 1-10 record is tied for the worst start in franchise history. Carolina has scored 15 or fewer points in five straight games, tied for another franchise-worst mark.

Among qualifying QBs, Young's 1-9 record (he missed one game injured) and 5.4 yards per attempt are the worst in the league. His average of 187.7 passing yards is third-worst, as is his 74.9 passer rating. The Panthers are averaging 15.7 points per game (29th) and 4.1 yards per play (tied for last).

Reich had earlier given up offensive play-calling to coordinator Thomas Brown but recently took responsibilities back to a disastrous effect.  The offense produced only 10 points in each of the last two games after Reich reclaimed the duties. Carolina GM Scott Fitterer's future is definitely in doubt too, because he clearly blew it by taking Young at No. 1 over CJ Stroud. And Fitterer may have given Chicago the No. 1 overall pick in next year's draft by sending Carolina's first-rounder to the Bears in the trade that moved the Panthers up to take Young.

"I met with Coach Reich this morning and informed him that he will not continue as head coach of the Carolina Panthers," owner David Tepper said in a statement released. "I want to thank Frank for his dedication and service, and we wish him well. Effective immediately, Special Teams Coordinator Chris Tabor will serve as our interim head coach. Senior Assistant Jim Caldwell will be a special advisor to Offensive Coordinator Thomas Brown, who will take over play-calling duties."

We could somewhat see this coming. After Sunday's 17-10 loss at the Titans, Tepper could be heard muttering curses while leaving the locker room. 

Tepper purchased the Panthers in 2018. The team was 6-2 when the sale happened but has gone 24-61 since.

Money will be no object for Tepper, who is one of the richest owners in the NFL. He can afford to pay whatever Jim Harbaugh's buyout is at Michigan. Harbaugh might finally be ready to leave Ann Arbor in the wake of this sign-stealing scandal and the possibility of another suspension next season by the NCAA. If Michigan wins the national title, he could jump ship. Harbaugh reportedly called Tepper in 2022 when the franchise was searching for a new head coach.

The hottest coordinator in the NFL is Detroit OC Ben Johnson, who is just 37 years old. An offensive-minded coach could make sense to try to salvage Young. Johnson has turned one-time No. 1 overall pick bust Jared Goff into one of the NFL's top QBs. Tepper and his search committee targeted Johnson early in their search last year, but Johnson notified teams he was staying in Detroit. The search then turned to Reich.

If Harbaugh isn't the choice, could his former Michigan defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald fit the bill? He had the role at Michigan in 2021 and has been with the Baltimore Ravens as DC since 2022. The Baltimore defense has been historically good this season and the Ravens have the AFC's best record in large part because of it.

Could Carolina lure back former DC and current Bills coach Sean McDermott if Buffalo misses the playoffs? It could be time for a change there if it happens. 

Due to new NFL rules, the Panthers cannot interview a head-coaching candidate a currently employed by another team in-person until after the divisional round of the playoffs.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Who will be the next Carolina Panthers full-time head coach?

• Ben Johnson +250
• Mike Macdonald +400
• Jim Harbaugh +500
• Eric Bieniemy +600
• Frank Smith +600
• Bobby Slowik +700
• Dan Quinn +900
• Jim Caldwell +1000
• Steve Wilks +1500
• Ejiro Evero +2000
• Thomas Bown +2000
• Sean McDermott +3000

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