NFL head coach Frank Reich is returning to Charlotte, North Carolina, to coach the Carolina Panthers, a city where he pastored until 2007 when he left to coach in the NFL.
Last year, Reich was let go the head coach from the Indianapolis Colts after a week 9 loss to the New England Patriots. Reich’s overall career record as the team’s head coach to 40-33-1.
Before becoming becoming the Colt’s head coach, Reich helped lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a 2017 Super Bowl win as offensive coordinator against the Tom Brady led New England Patriots.
The 61-year-old Reich is heading back to the team he where started as quarterback in 1995, the Panther’s inaugural season. Reich was the quarterback to throw the franchise’s first ever touchdown.
After retiring following the 1998 NFL season, Reich attended Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) and received his Master of Divinity degree.
Reich served as the president of RTS Charlotte from 2003 to 2006 and became the pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian (now Ballantyne Presbyterian) before starting his NFL coaching career in 2007.
Reich told The Gospel Coalition, “I came to recognize more and more this false dichotomy between sacred and secular work”, sharing what he learned about “the priesthood of all believers—that every Christian is called to live out their faith in their sphere of influence.”