First coach is off the board as early Broncos candidate takes Panthers job

Frank Reich is headed back to where it all began; Carolina. The Panthers first ever quarterback will now lead them as head coach, signing a deal on Thursday, the team announced.

Reich was an early candidate for the Denver Broncos head coach vacancy but never got an interview. The retread coach, was fired from the same position with the Indianapolis Colts in the middle of this past season.

While Reich was narrowed down from competing for the Broncos long ago, Denver narrowed down their list further on Thursday. DeMeco Ryans is now the top candidate for the Broncos, per 9News.

The Panthers were thought to be a team that would make a massive swing for a Sean Payton-type since they have the second-richest ownership group behind the Broncos. Instead, they opt for 40–33–1 Reich, who has connections to the club but has only coached his teams to one playoff win.

Either way Carolina likely got their guy, Reich is the first head coach hired in this cycle. There are still openings in Denver, Arizona, Indianapolis and Houston.

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