Three potential candidates for Panthers' coaching vacancy

On Monday, the Carolina Panthers fired Frank Reich as their head coach 11 games into his tenure. While the team's results on the field (1-10) warrant Reich's dismissal, it's still shocking, and the abruptness of the decision could make it challenging to hire an impactful replacement.

Nonetheless, here are three potential replacements for Reich in Carolina:.

Eric Bieniemy | Washington Commanders assistant head coach/offensive coordinator

Carolina had the right idea to bring in a head coach to improve the offense last hiring cycle. It just chose the wrong candidate. Still, that shouldn't deter owner David Tepper from hiring another offensive-minded coach, and while Commanders HC Ron Rivera is expected to be fired, there's no guarantee Bieniemy will be appointed as his successor. 

Bieniemy has been passed over for several head-coaching jobs, but he should be a more desirable candidate now that he's succeeding outside of Kansas City, where he coached under Andy Reid for five seasons. Washington might not have a top-five scoring offense in the NFL like the Chiefs enjoyed in four of five seasons under Bieniemy, but second-year quarterback Sam Howell has thrived in the two-time Super Bowl champion's system.

Through 12 games, Howell leads the league in passing yards (3,339) and ranks 10th in passing touchdowns (18). Having this type of production with a fifth-round pick should give Tepper reason to believe Bieniemy could be the right man to help get QB Bryce Young's career on track.

Jim Harbaugh | Michigan head coach

In January, Harbaugh discussed Carolina's head-coaching job briefly with Tepper, only for him to return to his alma mater at Michigan. However, given the sign-stealing scandal that Harbaugh and the Wolverines are embroiled in, this could be the offseason the 59-year-old returns to the pros, where he had much success with the San Francisco 49ers.

In four seasons with the 49ers, Harbaugh was 49-22-1, including the playoffs, and led the team to Super Bowl XLVII, a game in which they were defeated by brother John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens. After finishing 8-8 in 2014, San Francisco fired Harbaugh, who returned to Michigan to restore the school to glory and has succeeded in doing so, going 86-25 over nine seasons. 

Despite Harbaugh's winning track record and history of working with prominent quarterbacks, it's worth mentioning that his hiring could come with risks if he is suspended again by the NCAA. Last month, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported Harbaugh might be forced to serve a portion, or perhaps even all, of any potential suspension he may face at Michigan if he bolts to the NFL.

Ben Johnson | Detroit Lions offensive coordinator

Johnson should be the most coveted coaching candidate during the offseason for his work in helping transform the Lions into one of the NFL's best teams and turning QB Jared Goff's career around. Last season — Johnson's first as Detroit's OC — the Lions ranked fifth in points (453), sixth in passing yards (4,281) and 11th in rushing yards (2,179). Consequently, this earned Johnson interviews via teleconference with several teams, including the Panthers, before he decided to return to Detroit. 

The decision to stay with Detroit (8-3) has helped Johnson's stock rise, as the team is off to one of the most impressive starts in franchise history, largely due to its prolific offense. The Lions average the second-most yards (405.5) and the seventh-most points per game (26.7). 

Considering the Panthers' lack of weapons on offense and lack of a 2024 first-round pick, the job could be a tough sell for the up-and-coming Johnson, especially after he pulled out of last offseason's interview process. Even so, as the second-richest owner in the NFL, Tepper has the power to make an offer Johnson can't refuse and, given Carolina's bleak outlook, Tepper should should do so.