CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chris Tabor, the specials teams coordinator for the Carolinas Panthers, will take over as the NFL team's head coach Monday following the firing of Frank Reich, team owner David Tepper said in a released statement.
Tabor is in his second season as Carolina's special teams coordinator and his 15th season in the NFL, according to the team.
Tabor's official team biography credits him with leading the unit in field goal percentage and setting a franchise record with four blocked field goals. Tabor was ranked fourth in Rick Gosselin's definitive rankings, according to the Panthers. The team was 28th in the ranking before Tabor.
Before joining the Carolina Panthers, Tabor was the special teams coordinator for the Chicago Bears from 2018 through 2021. He held the same position with the Cleveland Browns from 2011 through 2017. He was first hired into the NFL by the Bears in 2008 as a special teams assistant.
In 2006 and 2007, Tabor spent two seasons at Western Michigan University as the running backs and special teams coach, according to his Panthers biography. In 2005, he held the same job for Utah State University, where he had been serving as the assistant head coach in charge of wide receivers since 2002.
Tabor served as head coach of Culver-Stockton College in 2001 after being an assistant at the University of Missouri from 1997 through 1999. Tabor was a quarterback for four seasons while attending Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.
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