Carolina Panthers Fire Former Steelers RB

The Panthers fired their assistant head coach and running backs coach, former Steelers running back Duce Staley, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network announced. That is in addition to head coach Frank Reich, and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, who had a hand in the struggling team as rookie Bryce Young is off to a stumbling start in his NFL career. They lasted just 11 games in Charlotte.

Interim head coach Chris Tabor and offensive assistant Jim Caldwell decided to move on from Staley in Carolina. They were just part of a domino effect.

Staley has a high pedigree and is well-thought-of throughout the league. Before this season, he had the same job title with the Detroit Lions on Dan Campbell’s staff, helping the young team come together and hit their stride. Staley would head to Carolina with Reich for a more lucrative opportunity, but it did not work out. Previously, he worked as a coach with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2010 to 2020, ascending from special teams quality control to running backs coach and assistant head coach. He has held those titles everywhere he has gone and should land a job at a new place despite the dysfunction in Carolina.

Staley spent the final three seasons of his career in Pittsburgh as a player, playing from 2004-06 and winning Super Bowl XL after the 2005 season. Philadelphia drafted him out of South Carolina, and spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Eagles. The Steelers saw Staley play at a high level even in those final three seasons, and if they are looking to expand their coaching staff, he could be an exciting person to add to the fold.

Selected in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Eagles, Staley played the first seven years of his career in Philadelphia, where is 4,807 rushing yards are the fifth-most in franchise history. As a coach, Staley has done well for himself but now needs to map out the next steps after Panthers owner David Tepper cleaned house.