Frank Reich, the starting quarterback for the first game in Carolina Panthers history in 1995, is now the team’s sixth head coach.
Reich agreed to a four-year deal that is expected to be finalized by Monday.
Owner David Tepper chose Reich, 61, after a search that included nine candidates, including interim head coach Steve Wilks and former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton. It ultimately came down to Reich and Wilks, who went 6-6 after Matt Rhule was fired following a 1-4 start. Wilks was the sentimental favorite of Carolina players to get the full-time job.
Reich, fired as the coach of the Indianapolis Colts in November, is the first offensive-minded head coach hired in Carolina history. That played a big role in the decision to hire him over Wilks, whose background is on defense.
Whether or not Reich will call the plays depends on whom he hires as his offensive coordinator, according to a source.