Tag: Duce Staley

Chris Tabor asked about unflattering report of Panthers’ ‘Hunger Games’ culture

Panthers interim HC Chris Tabor was asked about The Athletic’s report of a dysfunctional culture within the organization.

Carolina Panthers interim head coach Chris Tabor did not volunteer any kind of tribute on Wednesday.

Tabor spoke with reporters this afternoon, just hours after a report from The Athletic painted an unflattering picture of a dysfunctional operation that has brewed in the organization. He simply said the following when asked about it:

“It’s been fine. I haven’t had a problem.”

Joe Person and Dianna Russini detailed the troubles within the building, including instances of harsh disagreements between staff members and micromanagement from owner David Tepper. Over 20 coaches, players and sources were interviewed for the report, with some describing it as a “Hunger Games” culture.

Person and Russini wrote that head coach Frank Reich’s staff, at least on offense, seemingly never got on the same page:

Tepper also encouraged Reich to go outside of his “circle” with some of the hires. As such, many of the offensive coaches had never worked together and brought different philosophies to an offense that would be led by a rookie quarterback from Week 1. Besides the disagreements in scheme, there were personality conflicts and factions formed on a staff that included two main holdovers from Rhule’s staff — offensive line coach James Campen and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, both of whom were retained at Tepper’s urging.

After being named interim head coach following Reich’s firing, Tabor made the decision to dismiss assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown.

Nonetheless, Tabor also affirmed that the staff gets along great.

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Chris Tabor gives updates on coaching staff’s roles after firing of Frank Reich

Panthers interim HC Chris Tabor spoke about the firings of Duce Staley and Josh McCown on Tuesday.

For the second straight season, the Carolina Panthers have themselves an interim head coach. And this time around, it’s special teams coordinator Chris Tabor.

Tabor, who was named to the position after yesterday’s firing of head coach Frank Reich, spoke to reporters on Tuesday morning. He was asked about the subsequent decisions to dismiss assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, his first moves at the helm.

“First and foremost, I’d say this—I made those decisions and, as I mentioned earlier in my opening statement, coaching is about relationships,” Tabor said. “And I respect both those coaches as people and coaches. I’m gonna keep our talks in house. Anything that we do, we’re always tryin’ to continue to improve our team.”

The 1-10 Panthers have struggled mightily on offense throughout the season. Through 12 weeks of play, they rank 30th in yards per game and 29th in points per game.

Tabor then provided a few updates on who will be picking up where Staley and McCown left off.

“Parks Frazier will be our quarterback coach and coach [Jim] Caldwell will be in that room helping,” he later added. “And Thomas Brown will be our play-caller and coachin’ the running backs.”

Brown, of course, is also the team’s offensive coordinator and will be resuming play-calling duties with Reich’s departure. Frazier was initially hired this offseason as the team’s passing game coordinator.

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Former Lions coach Duce Staley among those fired in Carolina

Staley was fired along with Frank Reich and others just 12 games into their first season in Carolina.

Head coach Frank Reich wasn’t the only authority figure shown the door in Carolina. The Panthers organization also axed an assistant coach who was on Dan Campbell’s staff in Detroit in 2022.

Panthers assistant head coach Duce Staley was fired with Reich. Staley held that role in 2021-2022 with the Lions, while also serving as Detroit’s running backs coach. He left the Lions this past offseason to take a position with Carolina that was closer to his ailing mother. Scottie Montgomery took over that role in Detroit under Campbell.

Carolina also fired Josh McCown midway through his first season as the Panthers’ QB coach. McCown played for the Lions in 2006 among his many stops in the NFL.

As of now, defensive line coach Todd Wash remains employed by the Panthers. Like Staley, Wash also left Detroit for Carolina this past offseason. Former Lions head coach Jim Caldwell also remains as a senior offensive assistant to help interim head coach Chris Tabor.

Panthers fans react to firings of Duce Staley, Josh McCown

Duce Staley and Josh McCown will be following Frank Reich out on Monday. Here’s how Panthers fans are reacting to the latest coaching casualties . . .

The chopping block in Charlotte claimed two more heads on Monday.

A few hours after dismissing head coach Frank Reich, the Carolina Panthers announced the firings of assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. The decisions, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, came down from interim head coach Chris Tabor and senior offensive assistant Jim Caldwell.

Here’s how Panthers fans are dealing with the latest departures:

Former Eagles’ great Duce Staley fired as RB coach by Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have fired assistant head coach and running backs coach Duce Staley

The impact of Frank Reich’s firing is starting to trickle down to the coaching staff, as Duce Staley was fired as assistant head coach/ running backs coach according to Tom Pelissero.

A former Eagles running back and assistant coach, Staley left Dan Campbell’s staff in Detroit to join Frank Reich in Carolina.

Panthers owner David Tepper fired Reich on Monday morning, less than 24 hours after the owner left the locker room muttering an expletive following Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.

Special teams coach Chris Tabor has been appointed as interim head coach, while offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will assume playcalling duties with help from senior assistant Jim Caldwell.

Tabor and Caldwell made the call to relieve Staley and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown of their duties.

Reich’s tenure at Carolina ended with an NFL-worst 1-10 record — including an 0-6 mark on the road. He also becomes the first NFL head coach since the 1970 merger to be fired in back-to-back seasons after last year’s dismissal from the Colts.

Panthers fire assistant HC Duce Staley, QB coach Josh McCown

After parting ways with Frank Reich, the Panthers also fired assistant HC/RB coach Duce Staley and QB coach Josh McCown on Monday.

Frank Reich wasn’t the only coach to feel the wrath on Monday.

A few hours after announcing they had parted ways with their head coach, the Carolina Panthers have also fired assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter was first with the news this afternoon.

Like Reich, Staley and McCown were in their first years with the organization. Both were hired in February as part of the franchise’s overhaul of its coaching staff.

Their dismissals come with the 1-10 Panthers continuing to struggle on offense. Carolina is currently averaging the third-fewest yards per game (265.9) and the fourth-fewest points per game (15.7).

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted that the decisions on Staley and McCown were made by interim head coach Chris Tabor and offensive assistant Jim Caldwell.

As announced by owner David Tepper earlier this morning, Caldwell and offensive coordinator Thomas Brown have been spared from the chopping block. Brown will resume play-calling duties, which were taken back by Reich two weeks ago, with Caldwell serving as his advisor.

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15 possible HC candidates for the Panthers in 2024

Here are 15 names to keep in mind as Panthers owner David Tepper embarks on his third head-coaching search

Here we are again.

For the second time in as many years, the Carolina Panthers are in the market for a new head coach. Monday morning’s firing of Frank Reich, who lasted a miserable 11 games in Charlotte, now opens the door for yet another leader for this unstable franchise.

So, who will that leader be?

Well, it’s still too early to tell. But here are 15 possible candidates that could be of interest to owner David Tepper and company:

8 Panthers assistants named future head-coaching candidates

A total of eight Panthers assistants were named as future head-coaching candidates by SI’s Conor Orr.

Considering they remain winless through about a quarter of the season, it might be difficult for someone to sell the Carolina Panthers coaching staff at the moment. But not for Sports Illustrated senior writer Conor Orr.

Orr recently published his annual future head coaches index—an “exhaustive list” (Conor’s words, not ours) that accounts for names who will, may and/or should be considered for openings this offseason. Amongst the slew of those mentioned are eight current Panthers assistants—beginning with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

Evero, according to Orr, is considered a “lock” to nail down a new job in 2024. He writes:

“Ejiro is a star, man. A bona fide future head coach,” an NFC coach says. “Impressive” was the first word that came on another text about Evero, whose body of work last year as the defensive coordinator with the Broncos is worth a deep dive. Denver allowed 20 or fewer points in nine games last season, but the way in which he manipulated and transformed his personnel to attack opponents on a week-to-week basis was epic. Evero has an elite coaching apprenticeship résumé, having worked under Jim Harbaugh, Mike McCarthy, Sean McVay and now Frank Reich. His quiet confidence is a respect generator. Evero was among the most sought-after defensive coordinators on the market after a series of head coaching interviews last year with the Colts and Panthers, among other teams.

Despite Carolina’s 0-4 start, Evero has his unit working at a pretty admirable rate—even with injuries to key starters such as cornerback Jaycee Horn and linebacker Shaq Thompson. Heading into Week 4’s Monday nighter, the Panthers have allowed the 14th-fewest total yards per game (313.0), the sixth-fewest first downs (40) and have racked up a respectable 12 sacks.

Heck, they were even able to “hold” Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson down to 85 yards in Sunday’s loss. Granted, he scored two touchdowns and the run defense was quite leaky—but those 85 yards were a far cry from what the All-Pro pass catcher did in his first three weeks.

Evero is joined on the list by his following co-workers:

  • Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown
  • Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown
  • Assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley
  • Secondary/cornerbacks coach Jonathan Cooley
  • Assistant defensive backs coach DeAngelo Hall
  • Linebackers coach Peter Hansen
  • Outside linebackers coach Tem Lukabu

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Duce Staley played ‘big part’ in recruiting WR DJ Chark to Panthers

According to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, Panthers assistant HC and RB coach Duce Staley was key in the team’s recruitment of WR DJ Chark.

Carolina Panthers assistant head coach and running backs coach Duce Staley didn’t just use his Philadelphia connections to help make a difference on offense.

This past Friday, the team agreed to terms with wide receiver DJ Chark on a one-year, $5 million deal. And according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, Staley played a considerable role in getting the former Pro Bowler to Charlotte.

Staley, who also served in his same dual role for the Detroit Lions between 2021 and 2022, first crossed paths with Chark this past season. The former Jacksonville Jaguar signed with the Lions on one-year, $10 million pact last spring.

While a pretty successful one for the franchise, the 2022 campaign probably wasn’t what Chark had envisioned for himself. Hampered by an ankle sprain, the 26-year-old played in just 10 games—reeling in 30 balls for 502 yards and three touchdowns.

But, with what should be a clean bill of health and some support from his guy in Staley, Chark will have another opportunity to “prove it” in 2023 and for when the next time a contract comes around.

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What Panthers RB coach Duce Staley said of Miles Sanders’ big-play ability in 2020

With former Eagles Miles Sanders and Duce Staley reuniting in Carolina, let’s rewind to 2020 and look at the coach’s praise for the new Panthers RB.

The Carolina Panthers just got themselves a home run hitter in running back Miles Sanders. Just ask Duce Staley.

On Wednesday, the team agreed to terms on a four-year, $25 million deal with the 25-year-old rusher. Sanders will now come over from the Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent two seasons under his former assistant head coach and running backs coach (and new assistant head coach and running backs coach) in Staley.

The two built a strong bond over in the City of Brotherly Love, so much so that Staley reportedly played a huge part in getting him to Carolina. And to get a taste of that connection, here’s what Staley had to say about Sanders’ big-play ability during the 2020 campaign.

“A guy with his ability being able to get in the open—he believes that no one can catch him. And that’s the kind of confidence you want in your running back,” he said.

“And I remember—I guess that was last year some time, I can’t remember what game it was—but I remember having a conversation with him. He broke loose and got caught. And I was like, ‘Wow, man.’ I said, ‘I thought you was gonna be able to go 70, go 80.’ He’s like, ‘Coach, I can! I promise you I can!’ So every time he breaks one this year, he comes up to me and was like ‘You wanna have a conversation,’ I was like, ‘Yeah, you right.'”

Sanders, who was in his second pro campaign at the time, finished the year with 867 rushing yards, six touchdowns and a gaudy 5.3 yards per attempt. He also made good on that promise, breaking out three runs of at least 70 yards.

Staley, in that same presser, then went on to talk about Sanders’ potential in the receiving game—something he’ll probably have to tap into for Carolina.

“He’s coming along,” he said of Sanders’ improvement as a pass catcher. “He’s working on it. He’s staying after, catching balls—which is the No. 1 thing. And catching different types of balls. Every ball’s not gonna be a spiral and every ball’s not gonna be perfect. You gotta catch low balls, high balls, over-the-shoulder balls. So you gotta kinda gotta give him different types of balls to catch. And he’s been doing a good job.

“Still a work in progress. And I’m glad he did admit that, and he’ll be the first to tell you. I tell him all the time—gotta continue to work on that, and he does.”

Sanders hasn’t been near the receiving threat he was in his rookie season, when he reeled in 50 balls for 509 yards and three touchdowns. In the three seasons since, he’s totaled 433 yards and no touchdowns on 74 grabs.

But, hey, at least Sanders and Staley will have plenty of time work on it again.

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