Greg Olsen is an emerging star in the broadcast booth for FOX and the former Carolina Panthers’ star tight end seems to get better and better as an analyst as each week passes.
But Olsen’s job status with FOX is likely to change next season.
As of now he is currently working on the No. 1 broadcast team with play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt, but according to Awful Announcing, Olsen will move to the No. 2 team next season when Tom Brady joins the network in his new role.
A report earlier this year noted that Olsen’s salary is $10 million per year as the analyst on Fox’s No. 1 team, but would be $3 million on the No. 2 team. The average NFL head coach makes roughly twice that figure.
So with Frank Reich out as the Panthers head coach, would Olsen consider taking the position if offered?
Is Greg Olsen A Darkhorse Candidate For The Panthers Coaching Job?
Before his career as an analyst, Olsen put together a prolific career in Charlotte. He closed out his NFL career with 742 receptions for 8,683 yards and 60 touchdowns, with the bulk of his success coming with the Panthers where he spent nine seasons.
For the last week, there have been rumors attaching Olsen to the Panthers head coaching vacancy.
On Monday during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Olsen was asked directly if he would have interest coaching the Carolina Panthers.
His former team made news this week with the firing of Frank Reich – is @gregolsen88 really interested in coaching #KeepPounding??
We asked the fantastic @NFLonFOX analyst that very question:#NFL pic.twitter.com/CglZOxXiZP
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) November 30, 2023
The former star tight end didn’t hold back.
“Who wouldn’t [be]?” Greg Olsen answered. “Obviously, this is a city that I love, this is a team that I played the bulk of my career for. I want to see them have success.
“I live here, my kids are here, we want to see the Carolina Panthers return to the level we were able to have a good five-six year run where we were one of the better stories in the NFL …”
As Sports Illustrated noted, although it would be a bold move to hire someone with literally zero coaching experience to lead your NFL franchise, very few know the Panthers’ organization and the city of Charlotte better than Greg Olsen. He would immediately have a strong backing from the fanbase and would be respected within the locker room, considering he played the game at a very high level for a long time and isn’t far removed from his playing days.
Olsen Feels Like A Long shot
While it would be an amazing homecoming story, Olsen actually becoming the next Carolina Panthers head coach feels like a long shot for sure.
First and foremost, the former NFL tight end doesn’t have any formal coaching experience beyond the youth level.
While Olsen’s knowledge of the game can’t be questioned — and the upcoming moves at FOX could signal a potential career change —Tepper and the Panthers brass have to get this hire right after missing big on Matt Rhule and firing Reich before he could finish even one full season.
Tepper has certainly proven to take an unconventional route since purchasing the Panthers, so nothing is off the table. While it wouldn’t be unrealistic to see Greg Olsen get into coaching in some capacity, or even join the new Panthers’ staff, it feels far-fetched that he would get consideration for the head coaching role.
There have been plenty of names attached to the vacancy and it’s likely to think that Tepper will go with a proven offensive mind as he attempts to right the ship and continue the development of quarterback Bryce Young.
