Panthers agree to terms with Jim Caldwell

Will serve as senior assistant answering directly to Frank Reich.  Another solid hire.

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Per Panthers.com

https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-a...m-caldwell


Seems like we are hiring everyone we wanted as HC as our assistants haha

This is a good hiring. He's working the Offensive side of the ball, and has experience as a Quarterbacks Coach and Head Coach

CHARLOTTE — New Panthers head coach Frank Reich added more experience and perspective to his first staff by adding one of his mentors in the game.

The Panthers agreed to terms Tuesday with Jim Caldwell to become senior assistant.

He'll report directly to Reich and will help the team on offense, defense, and special teams.

The 68-year-old Caldwell was one of nine coaches to interview for the Panthers' head coaching opening and the second from that group to join Reich's staff (along with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero).

Caldwell was there when Reich got one of his early looks into the coaching business. He was the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach under Tony Dungy when Reich began as a coaching intern with the Colts in 2006.

They won Super Bowl rings together that year, and Reich became the quarterbacks coach when Caldwell took over as Colts head coach for Tony Dungy upon his retirement.

Caldwell also served as head coach of the Lions, with a 62-50 record in seven seasons. He went to the playoffs four times (taking the Colts to the Super Bowl) and had five winning seasons. One of his two losing seasons came in the post-Peyton Manning season in Indianapolis when the future Hall of Fame quarterback was out with a neck injury.

Caldwell also won a Super Bowl ring as offensive coordinator in Baltimore.

Along with the addition of quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, the Panthers are putting together an impressive staff on offense around Reich. They also added former Panthers head coach Dom Capers as a senior defensive assistant for Evero, giving this staff the kind of experience they've lacked in recent years.

And I'm wondering about Reich; they asked him during his interview about "liking to call all Offensive plays", so that might be why he is hiring "Assistants" rather than a Coordinator.

No matter what, we are gonna have more NFL coaching experience to start this year.

Let’s not forget the amount of time that Caldwell spent with a guy, not a girl, named Peyton.

And I'm wondering about Reich;  they asked him during his interview about "liking to call all Offensive plays", so that might be why he is hiring "Assistants" rather than a Coordinator.

Hmmm..... Sort of hard to tell what Reich has in mind.  I thought (and still do think..) that he was waiting for the Super Bowl before pursuing most of his coaching staff.  I fully expect him to bring an OC aboard, whether he calls plays or not.  The Panthers have a history of using "assistants" as part of the coaching staff. It's really not unusual at all.  Last year (2022) the Panthers had 15+ "assistant" coaches of various descriptions.

Here are some of the general "assistants" as listed from last year.

Assistant Head Coach--Offense;  Assistant Head Coach--Defense;  Offensive Assistant Coach (3 of these..);  Senior Defensive Assistant Coach;  Defensive  Assistant Coach;  Special Teams Assistant Coach &  Assistant Special Teams Coach (What the difference was between these two = WHO KNOWS??);  Assistant to the Head Coach;  Coaching Assistant;  Strength and Conditioning Assistant Coach (2 of these..).  PLUS --- Multiple "assistant" position coaches...

LOTS and LOTS of assistants.....

Oh of course, that's factual information. I'm just wondering if he decides NOT to hire an offensive coordinator and elects to call plays himself.