Jerricho Cotchery is returning for a third season with the Carolina Panthers — but this time, it will be as a coach. On Thursday, Ron Rivera announced that Cotchery was hired as the team’s new assistant wide receivers coach. The 34-year-old former receiver unofficially retired at the end of the 2015 season and did not play in 2016.
Jerricho Cotchery returns to NFL as assistant coach for Panthers
Cotchery unofficially retired at the end of the 2015 season.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
“Here’s a guy who is very familiar with our guys, who was the quiet leader of that group,” Rivera said. “Also, he’s experienced as a slot receiver, which is one of the positions we want to feature and highlight as we go forward.”
In his final two seasons in 2014-15, Cotchery experienced a bit of a renaissance in Carolina. He caught 87 passes in that span and was a reliable veteran option for Cam Newton to target in the slot. However, Cotchery did show visible signs of decline and really struggled in the Super Bowl 50 loss to the Denver Broncos, committing several critical drops — including one that invoked the controversial catch rule:
The entire Panthers receiving corps stepped up in 2015 in the wake of Kelvin Benjamin’s season-ending ACL injury, with nine wideouts recording 10 receptions or more. Benjamin returned in 2016 and led the way with seven receiving touchdowns, but only tight end Greg Olsen totaled more than 1,000 receiving yards. The Panthers regressed as a whole, going from NFC champions in 2015 to a 6-10 record in 2016.
Cotchery has no previous coaching experience in the league, but his addition to the staff gives the Panthers someone who knows the position, the players, and the team. He will work under wide receivers coach Lance Taylor, who was last with Carolina in 2013 as the team’s assistant wide receivers coach.
“When it came about, obviously with the history that I have with Carolina, it was definitely something that interested me,” Cotchery said. “It was kind of a no-brainer.”
In 12 seasons in the league, including stints with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, Cotchery hauled in 524 catches for 6,623 and 34 touchdowns.
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