CHARLOTTE -- Following the retirement of Jim Skipper, the Panthers have hired Jake Peetz to coach the running backs.
Peetz, 35, comes to Carolina with nine years of NFL experience, having spent time in various roles with the Raiders (2015-17), Redskins (2014) and Jaguars (2008-12).
In 2018, he served as an offensive analyst at the University of Alabama under head coach Nick Saban, a position Peetz also held in 2013. The Crimson Tide 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."
Peetz also mentioned his excitement over working with offensive coordinator Norv Turner as well as running game coordinator John Matsko. And of course there's the players he'll work with – beginning with do-everything running back Christian McCaffrey.
"He's obviously a player that is very dynamic and has a special skill set," Peetz said. "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 coached quarterbacks in his final two seasons in Oakland (2016-17), serving as assistant quarterbacks coach in 2016 and quarterbacks coach in 2017. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr earned two of his three consecutive Pro Bowl selections working with Peetz. He originally joined the team as a senior offensive assistant in 2015, working primarily with the running backs. He helped Latavius Murray earn Pro Bowl honors after rushing for 1,066 yards and six touchdowns, the first 1,000-yard rushing season by a Raider since 2010.
Peetz spent one year with Washington as offensive quality control/assistant wide receivers coach in 2014. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson, in his one season working with Peetz, led the NFL with an average of 20.9 yards per reception and led the team with 1,169 receiving yards.
Peetz began his NFL coaching career in 2012 as Jacksonville's offensive assistant/assistant quarterbacks coach. Before joining the team's coaching staff, he worked in scouting, serving as the team's BLESTO scout in 2010-11 after starting as a scouting assistant in 2008.
Peetz began his coaching career with two years on the collegiate level at Santa Barbara City College (2006) and UCLA (2007).
"Hopefully some of the things that I bring from my time with other position groups can help add to this group and to this offense," Peetz said.
