Los Angeles Rams Lose Assistant Head Coach Who Takes Job As Panthers' Offensive Coordinator

Super Bowl winner Sean McVay made several changes this offseason to his coaching staff, one of which included the departure of assistant head coach Thomas Brown.

Now, he's on his way to the Carolina Panthers to work under new head coach Frank Reich - another high-profile hire for Reich.

Thomas Brown Leaves Los Angeles

Los Angeles lost a key assistant head coach this week when Thomas Brown left to become the Panthers' offensive coordinator. Thomas joined the Rams in 2020 and quickly rose through the ranks under Sean McVay, coaching running backs and tight ends throughout his three seasons on the team.

Though we have yet to fully assess the effects of the Rams' offense's re-building, Brown has been an integral part of it. He is a trusted member of McVay's coaching staff and has assisted numerous players in reaching their full potentials in Los Angeles.

With Brown in Carolina, Reich will have a young offensive mind to mentor under him. Already, Frank Reich has hired several experienced coaches such as Jim Caldwell and Deuce Staley; with Brown joining them, another veteran coach can be added to this group.

With Reich now part of the coaching staff, it appears likely that Brown and Reich will share play-calling duties for the offense. This setup should prove beneficial in the short term for Panthers' offense as a whole.

It's a victory for the Panthers, too. After searching for an effective long-term quarterback replacement since Tom Brady retired in 2018, they finally have someone in Brown and Reich. If their offensive system can match that of teams like New York Giants or Kansas City Chiefs, fans should be delighted that their team finally has an answer at quarterback.

On Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that the Panthers plan to hire Brown as their offensive coordinator. Brown had interviewed with four other teams for the position and ultimately, it was decided by the Panthers not to hire him after meeting with him.

The Panthers have much to be excited about in the near future. As one of the best-staffed teams in the NFL, with an experienced offensive coordinator like Brown at their helm, this should be a great season for them as they try to return to winning ways.

Frank Reich Hires Brown

Frank Reich has announced the hiring of Thomas Brown as his offensive coordinator, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Brown joins from the Los Angeles Rams where he worked under head coach Sean McVay since 2020; he served as running backs coach when they won Super Bowl LVI and served as tight ends coach last year.

The 36-year-old Brown boasts an impressive college and NFL coaching resume, including stops at South Carolina, Miami (Fla.), Georgia, Wisconsin, Marshall and Chattanooga. Additionally he served as offensive coordinator at Miami from 2016-18.

Brown will serve as the offensive coordinator for the Panthers, working alongside Reich and his staff which includes veteran quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and offensive line coach Jim Caldwell. This group has earned praise from football pundits due to its diverse personalities and styles.

Reich praised Brown as a "very bright, very young mind" who will work well with his new coaching staff. Additionally, Reich noted that Brown's NFL experience will enable him to craft an offense with greater creativity and explosiveness.

Brown has had the chance to collaborate with many running backs throughout his NFL career, such as Zach Charbonnet (UCLA) and Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama). He believes that having a strong running game is key for any team's success in the future.

This year, the Panthers have filled all three offensive coordinator positions on their coaching staff with Brown being the latest hire. Tem Lukabu has also been added as outside linebackers coach, Bert Watts as safeties coach and Devin Fitzsimmons serving as assistant special teams coach.

With so much talent at the skill positions, the Panthers will need to craft an offensive game plan that keeps their offense fresh and on the field throughout the season. That type of play-calling was hallmark for Reich with his former Indianapolis Colts squad.

At his induction into Indianapolis, Reich made it known that he enjoyed calling offensive plays but resisted being required to do so. Ultimately, however, he accepted this role and was able to construct an effective offense there.

Brown Joins Reich’s Staff

Thomas Brown, who served as an assistant under Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams for three years, has now joined Frank Reich's staff as Panthers offensive coordinator. At 36 years old, Brown is a former college running back who has spent 12 seasons working as an NFL assistant coach and previously at Wisconsin.

Reich has made several key hires since taking his position as head coach of the Panthers. Notable additions include Josh McCown as a quarterbacks coach and former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Parks Frazier.

While the Panthers will remain focused on their quarterback situation in the offseason, a strong running game could help boost their record this season. Brown will provide balance to the offense and foster relationships with new Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer and Reich.

Brown had previously interviewed for the head coaching job with the Texans, but was unable to secure it. He reportedly received head coaching interviews in each of the past two offseasons and has extensive experience as an offensive coordinator on a professional level.

That's why he is considered an up-and-coming coach by the industry. Aside from working with quarterbacks at the professional level, he has also been a successful running backs coach at the college level, developing some of the top college ball carriers in recent years.

He's an ideal fit for Carolina, as Reich is willing to let someone else call plays and build chemistry among his coaches. By adding Brown to their staff, Reich continues his trend of adding young assistants who are rising through the ranks.

Brown will be an invaluable asset to Reich's coaching staff, as he has extensive expertise in the passing game at the professional level and has developed a relationship with quarterbacks. Brown can help create balance on Carolina's offense and may help the Panthers return to relevance after Matt Rhule's era.

Brown Joins Caldwell & Staley

Brown has joined Frank Reich's staff as Panthers offensive coordinator, joining assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, running backs coach/assistant head coach Duce Staley and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown on his staff. Offensive line coach James Campen and assistant offensive line coach Robert Kugler are also returning from last season.

At 36 years, Brown spent three seasons with the Rams, serving as assistant head coach/tight ends and assistant head coach/running backs under Sean McVay during his time in Los Angeles. Prior to that he had a successful college running back career at Georgia and Wisconsin; later becoming an offensive coordinator in Miami from 2016-18.

Coach Brown is renowned for his strong communication skills, emphasizing honesty and openness with players and staff alike. Additionally, he has extensive experience as both a play-caller and former NFL quarterback having captained both Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns during their respective tenures.

Though they boast a powerful running game, the Panthers still have questions at the quarterback position. And with young quarterback Derek Carr entering his second season, the organization doesn't want to make any decisions that could negatively affect him.

That being said, the Panthers do have other options, including Thomas Brown who has been interviewed twice for the team's offensive coordinator job. As son of former NFL defensive coordinator Thomas Brown and a close friend of head coach Frank Reich, Thomas is well-qualified.

On Tuesday, the Panthers announced the hiring of Jim Caldwell as a senior assistant, joining Reich's coaching staff. Caldwell has served as head coach of both the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions and boasts more than 15 years in the league; during his two stints leading those teams he went 62-50, leading each to postseason appearances twice.

Caldwell has extensive college coaching experience, having served as an assistant coach at Wake Forest and the University of North Carolina. Furthermore, he has 10 years of NFL coaching experience to his credit.

Caldwell has extensive NFL coaching experience and can be mentored by Reich, his QBs coach in Indianapolis. It appears the Carolina Panthers are looking to bolster their staff with veteran coaches, and Caldwell seems like a great fit for their organization.