Professional football players have long declared that in addition to National Football League, NFL also stands for “Not For Long.”
Thanks to devastating injuries, the short leashes of impatient coaches and general managers or mere numbers games, playing careers can end in the blink of an eye.
That “Not For Long” moniker should also apply to head coaching careers, especially given some recent firings.
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper on Monday fired Frank Reich after just 11 games and less than 24 hours after his team fell to 1-10 with a 17-10 loss to the Titans. The Panthers also fired quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and running backs coach Duce Staley.
But Reich, a former successful head coach (with the Colts) and offensive coordinator (with the Chargers and Eagles), shouldn’t feel lonely. He’s just the latest casualty in a league run by wealthy men and women who can be strong in ego but weak in patience.
GO DEEPER
Panthers’ anemic offense and 1-10 record led to only choice — firing Frank Reich
Reich became the third head coach in three years who failed to make it through a full season in his first year with a team. Last year, the Broncos fired Nathaniel Hackett after just 15 games. In 2021, the Jaguars let Urban Meyer go after 13 games.
