| 2023 Carolina Panthers season | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Owner | David Tepper |
| General manager | Scott Fitterer |
| Head coach | Frank Reich (fired November 27; 1–10 record) Chris Tabor (interim; 1–5 record) |
| Home field | Bank of America Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 2–15 |
| Division place | 4th NFC South |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | DE Derrick Brown |
| Uniform | |
 | |
The 2023 season was the Carolina Panthers' 29th in the National Football League (NFL), their third and final under the leadership of general manager Scott Fitterer and their only under head coach Frank Reich. The Panthers started 0–6 for the first time since 1998. Following the team's Week 12 loss to the Tennessee Titans, not only did the Panthers fail to improve upon their 7–10 record from 2022, but they also fired Reich and named Chris Tabor as interim head coach.[1] Reich's firing marks the third firing of a head coach in five years and the second firing in two years for the franchise. Following a Week 13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Panthers were eliminated from playoff contention for the sixth consecutive season.[2]
The team acquired the number one overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft from the Chicago Bears in a trade involving wide receiver D. J. Moore,[3] which they used to draft Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.[4] Young is the third quarterback drafted by the Panthers in the first round, following Kerry Collins in 1995, and Cam Newton in 2011 (also taken first overall). As a result of the deal, the Bears ended up getting the #1 overall pick from Carolina in the 2024 Draft, and selected QB Caleb Williams.
In Weeks 17 and 18, they were shut out by the Jacksonville Jaguars[5] and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, becoming the first team since the 2008 Cleveland Browns to be shutout in back-to-back games.[6] They finished with a poor 2–15 record, the worst record in the league, and tying the 2001 team for most losses in a regular season.[7] The Panthers dubiously failed to hold a fourth quarter lead in any game during the season, with both of their wins coming on game-winning field goals as time expired with the team trailing by 1 point beforehand.[8]
- ^ "Panthers part ways with head coach Frank Reich". Panthers.com. November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
- ^ "Panthers officially eliminated from playoff contention with Week 13 loss to Bucs". Yahoo Sports. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ "Bears trading No. 1 overall pick to Panthers for WR D.J. Moore, four draft picks". NFL.com.
- ^ "Panthers select Alabama QB Bryce Young with No. 1 overall pick in 2023 NFL Draft". NFL.com.
- ^ "Panthers lock up NFL's worst record with first shutout in over 20 years". WCNC.com. December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ "Panthers suffer second shutout loss in a row as Buccaneers win NFC South". WCNC.com. January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch third straight NFC South title". NFL.com. January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ "Panthers just set this NFL record for futility that not even the 0-16 Browns or 0-16 Lions pulled off". CBSSports.com. January 11, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.