Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper and general manager Scott Fitterer have gone to bat for two of their team’s most esteemed coaches.
As reported by Joe Person of The Athletic, new head coach Frank Reich is set to begin his talks with Panthers assistants on Monday. Reich, in his first interview since being hired, told Panthers.com reporter Kristen Balboni last week that his plan in building his staff will be a methodical one.
Well, the franchise’s two biggest shot callers are using a little method of their own to try and retain a pair of highly-respected men. Person writes:
“Tepper and Fitterer encouraged head-coaching candidates to retain offensive line coach James Campen and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, according to league sources familiar with the discussions.”
Campen, who has always carried a mint reputation around the league, helped construct a refreshingly harmonious offensive line in 2022. And Tabor, another much regarded mind, pieced together one of the very best special teams units.
Person went on to note that Tepper is ready to spend on Reich’s staff, whoever they ultimately wind up with.
“Reich indicated Tepper — who has noted previously there’s no salary cap for coaches — is willing to pay to bring in high-caliber assistants,” he adds. “One of the knocks on Rhule was his decision to fill his first Panthers staff with mostly college coaches who’d worked with him at Temple and Baylor.”
So, it’s safe to say that Tepper and company have learned a hard (and costly) lesson from their last big decision.
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