The Carolina Panthers recently fired head coach Frank Reich after he started the 2023 season 1-10. How much does the team owe him over the next few years?

Frank Reich’s Salary

According to ESPN, the Indianapolis Colts are paying Reich $9 million per year through 2026 for a total of $36 million after he was fired in December 2022.

Now, after being fired by the Panthers, Reich will continue to earn his pay — with considerably less stress. He will earn a similar sum from the Panthers throughout the next three years.

Panthers owner David Tepper fired Reich as well as quarterback coach Josh McCown and assistant head coach/RB coach Duce Staley.

The firings came less than 24 hours after Carolina’s 17-10 road loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 12. Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor was named the interim head coach.

MORE: One-and-Done NFL Head Coaches

Reich’s 11-game tenure is one of the shortest tenures for an NFL head coach (who actually coached a game) in the last 45 years. The last time a team fired a first-year coach (who actually coached a game) this quickly was Pete McCulley, who lasted just nine games for the San Francisco 49ers in 1978.

Reich signed a four-year contract in January to guide the Carolina offense as well as help develop Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Instead, Young has struggled greatly this season. Thus far, he ranks 29th in QBR (32.0) and has been sacked 40 times. He has completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,877 yards, nine touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

Reich is owed $36 million from Carolina through 2026 and will make around $25,000 a day from the Panthers for the next three years.

Shortly after being fired on Monday, Reich told The Charlotte Observer he has no ill will toward Tepper.

“I want to convey that I have nothing but positive thoughts about Mr. Tepper,” Reich said. “On a personal level, I saw a side of him that I deeply respect and care about. But the NFL is a meritocracy. It’s not unconditional love. I understand from a professional standpoint Mr. Tepper is going to have certain standards that he expects to have met.

“I have no hard feelings, and my personal relationship with him was actually a real highlight of this short time.”

As for if he’ll coach again, Reich said, “This is probably the final chapter of my NFL journey.”

Owner David Tepper has now fired his head coach during the season for the second consecutive year. In 2022, the Panthers moved on from Matt Rhule after Week 5.

Throughout the year, the Panthers have been among the worst in the NFL in several categories, particularly offensively. They are averaging 15.7 points per game (29th), 4.1 yards per play (tied for last), and are converting 37.2% of third downs (20th).

“There’s a heart-pounding disappointment in not hitting the marks that we needed to hit to keep this going and try to get it turned around,” Reich said. “It hurts me for the guys, the team, the coaches, and the fans.”

MORE: Possible Head Coach Openings 2023

Carolina will endure its sixth straight losing season since Tepper bought the team in 2018 for $2.275 billion. Since then, the Panthers are 30-63, the second-worst record (trailing only the New York Jets).

Reich is the second head coach to be fired this season after the Las Vegas Raiders relieved Josh McDaniels of his duties on Oct. 31.

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CINCINNATI — Sunday certainly didn’t feel like August, with the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers playing in 40-degree rain, but at times it looked like it.

Three times, to be exact.

Rookie cornerback DJ Turner II wasted no time turning heads in training camp by consistently making splash plays against the likes of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins while playing with the first-team defense as Chidobe Awuzie worked his way back from ACL surgery.

Rookie DJ Turner a Bright Spot on Bengals Struggling Defense

While Turner has played well enough to start seven consecutive games, forcing Awuzie into the shorter side of a platoon, Sunday marked the first time the rookie second-round pick turned in big plays in bunches.

MORE: Does Tee Higgins Have a Chance To Play in Week 13?

The Michigan product made two plays to prevent Pittsburgh touchdowns in the 16-10 loss and had another one that led to a Cincinnati score when — one play after breaking up a would-be touchdown pass in the end zone — he recovered a Jaylen Warren fumble and returned it 28 yards.

Recovered by DJ Turner 👏#PITvsCIN | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/tNgkVZRLAe

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 26, 2023

“That’s why you never give up on a play,” Turner said. “Both of those plays was me not giving up on the play.”

Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett threw a strike to Diontae Johnson for what appeared to be a 15-yard touchdown. Pickett and his teammates were running to congratulate Johnson when they realized the referee had signaled an incomplete pass. Turner jarred the ball free from Johnson after he had taken a couple of steps and was going to the ground.

“I saw the ball when it came in,” Turner said. “I definitely was trying to punch the ball out.”

MORE: Bengals Run Game Craters to Historic Depths

The play might have been reversed to a touchdown had Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin challenged it, but he didn’t. On the next play, defensive tackle Zach Carter punched the ball out of Warren’s arms just before the running back’s knee hit the ground.

There were a lot of players standing around as the ball bounced on the turf, but Turner was one of the first to react, scooping it up and taking off, ultimately coming within one Steeler — fullback Connor Heyward — of taking it 89 yards for a touchdown.

“He had the angle, so I couldn’t just keep running straight,” Turner said. “I was trying to spin him up and hit the sideline, but he did a good job.”

The Bengals converted the turnover into their only touchdown drive of the game to take a 7-3 lead.

Turner’s third big play came in the fourth quarter with Pittsburgh leading 10-7. The Steelers had third-and-6 at the Cincinnati 16-yard line when Pickett again tried to hit Johnson in the end zone. However, Turner had good coverage and was able to reach his hand in and deflect the pass at the front pylon, forcing them to settle for a Chris Boswell field goal and a 13-7 lead.

The Week 13 waiver wire is one of the weakest of the season. The options this week are backup running backs with injury-related upside. Here are a few potential RB targets for fantasy football managers on the wire this week.

Top RB Waiver Wire Targets in Week 13

Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders (50% Rostered)

Checking in right at the roster percentage threshold, Antonio Gibson has proven to have a decent enough floor worth rostering.

More Waiver Wire Targets: WRs | TEs | QBs

There was a point in the season when I thought rookie Chris Rodriguez would be the primary rusher if Brian Robinson went down. It appears that Gibson has played his way back into the clear RB2 role.

Plus, it’s not as if Gibson’s value is only as a Robinson contingency. Since Week 5, he’s scored at least 5.1 fantasy points in every game, and he has four games with at least 8.6. That’s not nothing. Given how hard it is to find usable running backs on the waiver wire, Gibson is worth picking up if he’s out there.

FAAB Recommendation: 8-12%

Ezekiel Elliott, New England Patriots (40% Rostered)

This late in the season, upside-handcuff running backs need to be rostered, preferably by the teams with the starters. Ezekiel Elliott is still firmly behind Rhamondre Stevenson, but he did see 11 touches this week and looks halfway decent.

If Stevenson were to get hurt, Elliott might legitimately be a 70% snap-share player. He could be a startable RB2. Pick him up if he’s out there.

FAAB Recommendation: 8-12%

Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys (12% Rostered)

The Rico Dowdle thesis is the same as it was last week. There’s no standalone value here. But he’s the clear handcuff to Tony Pollard.

Whenever a starting running back goes down, fantasy managers rush to spend a bunch of their FAAB on the backup that is now taking over. I certainly don’t want Pollard to get hurt, but football is a violent game. We see it happen multiple times every year. Get out ahead of the game and grab Dowdle now.

FAAB Recommendation: 2-5%

Which RBs Should You Roster in Fantasy Football?

Should You Roster Antonio Gibson or Devin Singletary?

Devin Singletary’s value definitely took a bit of a hit with Dameon Pierce’s return. However, Singletary is a vastly more talented player. He proved that during the three games Pierce missed. Unsurprisingly, the Texans stuck with Singletary as their lead back.

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

Gibson does have a clear role behind Robinson, but he is not a reliable weekly starter. I believe Singletary is. For that reason, I much prefer Singletary.

Should You Roster Rico Dowdle or Chuba Hubbard?

After a month of being rather ineffective, Chuba Hubbard exploded for 20 fantasy points against the Titans. He did it largely on the heels of a season-high five catches for 34 yards. It also helped that he found the end zone.

If Pollard were to get hurt, Dowdle would unquestionably be the superior fantasy start to Hubbard. But with Pollard healthy, Dowdle is just a handcuff, whereas Hubbard remains startable on a weekly basis.

If it were earlier in the season, there would be an argument for Dowdle’s upside, as the chances Pollard could get hurt would be greater with more games left. With so few games remaining, we should operate under the assumption that all starting running backs will remain upright. Therefore, Hubbard is the preferred option between these two.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!