Frank Reich has neither committed to calling plays nor hired an offensive coordinator, but his staff is filling up with notable names. Reich’s latest Panthers hire qualified for such status as a result of the Colts firing their head coach last year.
Carolina’s new HC added former Indianapolis lieutenant Parks Frazier to his staff Wednesday. Frazier, who became the Colts’ play-caller under Reich’s replacement, will rejoin the coach that hired him in Indianapolis. Frazier will take over as the Panthers’ pass-game coordinator.
Just 31, Frazier unexpectedly rose from an assistant quarterbacks coach role into a play-calling position. This came because Reich’s ouster led to both quarterbacks coach Scott Milanovich and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery turning down Jeff Saturday‘s offer to call plays. This left Frazier for the gig. While that provided valuable experience, Frazier should not be expected to call plays for the Panthers.
Reich hired Frazier from the college ranks back in 2018, bringing him to Indy as his assistant. He rose to the quality control level and into the assistant QBs coach role before receiving the surprising nod to become Saturday’s interim offensive coordinator. The Colts went 1-7 under the Saturday-Frazier setup, starting three quarterbacks, and the Colts moved on via Shane Steichen. But Reich’s staff in Carolina is filling up.
The Panthers have already hired HC candidate Ejiro Evero to run the defense and added Jim Caldwell, Josh McCown and Duce Staley on offense. Carolina’s original HC, Dom Capers, is also back on staff.
Parks…?
Recreation is his sibling