David NewtonReading: 5 min.
The now senior consultant to the Panthers was for decades one of the most recognizable faces among African-American head coaches in the NFL.
The senior assistant to the Carolina Panthers, Jim Caldwellone of the faces of the NFL in terms of signings of black head coaches in the past decades, he said he doesn’t plan to seek another head coaching job.
“Right now, the only position that worries me is the one that I have here, here and now,” said the former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Indianapolis Colts y Detroit Lions this Tuesday. “I’m not worried about the future or anything like that. I don’t plan to be a head coach from this point forward.”
Caldwell68 years old, was fired as head coach of the Lions after the 2017 season. He has interviewed for more than half a dozen head coaching positions since then, including vacancies at Panthers y Denver Broncos this year.
Frank Reich hired Caldwell as a senior assistant to report to him in all phases of the game after being named head coach after a process in which Carolina interviewed nine candidates.
“When I didn’t get a head coaching position, I immediately changed my plan in terms of what I was looking for now,” he said. Caldwell. “I knew I was at a stage where I wanted to be inside the building somewhere.
“And so, I had a few opportunities that I looked at, and I was glad when he called Frank“.
One of five teams with head coaching openings this offseason, only the Houston Texans They hired a minority head coach: DeMeco Ryans. Only the Texans, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders y Tampa Bay Buccaneers they currently have minority head coaches among the 32 teams.
Caldwell He said he would continue to work to get more black head coaches into the league. She simply won’t be part of that group.
“When you look at the numbers, they speak for themselves,” he said of the league’s record on hiring African-American coaches. “There have been volumes and volumes of articles that have been written and reported on television regarding the lack of diversity. in terms of the head coach position.
“But, there’s a lot going on in the background and I’m trying to improve this.”
Caldwell applauded the effort of the commissioner of the NFL, Roger Goodelland the executive vice president of league operations, Troy Vincentfor “trying to scratch and find different ways to improve” minority hires.
He confirmed that he will continue to be part of the Quarterbacks Coaches Summit focused on getting more slots for offensive-minded black coaches in the collegiate ranks to gain access to the NFL and head coach positions.
Caldwell He said it seems to be “the avenue to getting to a head coaching position.”
A reason why Reichthe original quarterback of the Panthers in 1995, he was hired by the owner of Carolina, David Tepperit was his experience in command of plays.
Reich confirmed this Tuesday that he plans to continue sending the offensive plays for the Panthers with the goal of one day handing that task over to the new offensive coordinator Thomas Brownwho is African American.
Reich also hired a black defensive coordinator in Used Everowho had the same role with the Broncos Last season.
They are all steps that Caldwell He says they will help pave the way for future African-American head coaches, but for him, his time as head coach has passed.
“My focus is to do the best job that I absolutely can for this organization on this particular point,” he stated. Caldwellwho called North Carolina home since 1993, when he was head coach of Wake Forest in Winston Salem. “I, at this station in my life, want to be as good as I possibly can at this.”
Caldwell He is one of two former head coaches in the assistant group of Reich. the other is Dom Capersthe original head coach of the Pantherswho is a senior defensive consultant.
Reich he has assembled one of the oldest coaching staffs in the league. With only one tight ends coach to hire, his group has 191 years of coaching experience in the league. NFL and another 75 years as players.
That group has been combined for 10 rings of Super Bowlincluding two obtained by Caldwellin 2006 as assistant head coach for the Colts and in 2012 as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens.
Caldwell joked that he didn’t have to give reporters an evaluation of the staff Carolina Because when you’re not the head coach, “there are questions I don’t have to answer.”
Reich he was also vague about the roster, particularly at quarterback, the team’s biggest need. When asked if Carolina I would look for the former passer of Las Vegas Raiders, Derek Carrresponded that “it’s an interesting question,” adding that it’s too early in the process to answer.
The fact that Carolina It is currently in the lower half of the NFL in space under the salary cap will influence it.
But, Reich yes thanks to Carpets for following through on your comment that there was no salary cap for hiring coaches, as far as putting together a group of veteran coaches like Caldwell.
“That doesn’t mean there was an open checkbook,” he noted. “It just means we were willing to do what it took to get the right coaches.”
Caldwellwho was part of the group of attendees of Indianapolis when Reich first became a coach there in 2006, he is grateful for the new opportunity.
“You have to have that level of faith in that person,” he said. Caldwell of Reich. “You must have a very good understanding of what his character is like. Those were all factors with me and Frank.
“Also, the role itself. I really like this role. It was tailor-made for me. It was ideal because I get to use all the gifts God gave me in this role.”