Just hours after the Carolina Panthers announced long-time running backs coach Jim Skipper would be retiring, Carolina will hire Alabama assistant coach Jake Peetz as the team's new running backs coach.
Peetz replaces Skipper, who led the Panthers to five straight Top 10 finishes in rushing yards per game and most recently oversaw a record-breaking season from second-year running back Christian McCaffrey.
“He’s (McCaffrey) obviously a player that is very dynamic and has a special skill set,” Peetz told Panthers.com. “This is a players’ league, and there are some great players here. It’s exciting to get an opportunity to work with him and the other guys that will be competing here.”
Peetz, 35, spent 2018 with the Crimson Tide as an offensive analyst but has served time in the NFL as an assistant coach with the Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins and Jacksonville Jaguars over the last 10 years. Alabama led all SEC teams last season with 522.0 yards and 45.6 points per game.
“My wife and I are really excited to bring our family here to Charlotte and work with Coach Rivera and Mr. Hurney,” Peetz said. “It’s a great opportunity with a very good organization, an opportunity to grow. And it’s a special privilege to be able to follow somebody like Coach Skipper given his contributions to this league.”Most recently, Peetz served as the quarterback's coach with Oakland in 2017 and oversaw the development of quarterback Derek Carr before being let go after the Raiders went 6-10.
At Alabama, Peetz was a pivotal part of implementing the run-pass option that the Crimson Tide ran with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this season.
Peetz entered the NFL as a scouting assistant for the Jaguars in 2008 and worked his way up to offensive assistant in 2012. He would then join Washington in 2014 as offensive quality control and wide receivers coach before joining the Raiders.
Our story on Skipper's retirement: https://wbt.radio.com/blogs/jason-huber/panthers-running-backs-coach-jim...