CHARLOTTE — New Panthers head coach Frank Reich added more experience and perspective to his first staff by adding one of his mentors in the game.
The Panthers agreed to terms Tuesday with Jim Caldwell to become senior assistant.
He'll report directly to Reich and will help the team on offense, defense, and special teams.
The 68-year-old Caldwell was one of nine coaches to interview for the Panthers' head coaching opening and the second from that group to join Reich's staff (along with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero).
Caldwell was there when Reich got one of his early looks into the coaching business. He was the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach under Tony Dungy when Reich began as a coaching intern with the Colts in 2006.
They won Super Bowl rings together that year, and Reich became the quarterbacks coach when Caldwell took over as Colts head coach for Tony Dungy upon his retirement.
Caldwell also served as head coach of the Lions, with a 62-50 record in seven seasons. He went to the playoffs four times (taking the Colts to the Super Bowl) and had five winning seasons. One of his two losing seasons came in the post-Peyton Manning season in Indianapolis when the future Hall of Fame quarterback was out with a neck injury.
Caldwell also won a Super Bowl ring as offensive coordinator in Baltimore.
Along with the addition of quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, the Panthers are putting together an impressive staff on offense around Reich. They also added former Panthers head coach Dom Capers as a senior defensive assistant for Evero, giving this staff the kind of experience they've lacked in recent years.
Jim Caldwell has 18 years of NFL coaching experience, including head coach positions with the Lions (2014-17) and Colts (2009-11).
Miami Dolphins assistant head coach Jim Caldwell laughs during NFL rookie camp on Thursday, May 9, 2019, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) does drills as quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell, right, looks on at the team's NFL football training facility, Wednesday, June 5, 2019, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Bears head coach John Fox, left, and Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell talk before an NFL football game in Detroit, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, left, speaks with offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell after NFL football practice at the team's training facility in Owings Mills, Md., Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. The Ravens are scheduled to face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 3. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell points in the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011. Baltimore won 24-10. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell argue with field judge Brad Rogers after Lions cornerback Quandre Diggs was flagged for unnecessary roughness during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
ARCHIVO - En imagen de archivo del 30 de octubre de 2016, el entrenador en jefe de los Lions de Detroit, Jim Caldwell, da instrucciones a sus jugadores en duelo de NFL ante los Texans, en Houston. (AP Foto/George Bridges, archivo)
File- In this Dec. 24, 2017, file photo, then-Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell watches during the first half of the team's NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati. The Browns have interviewed former Indianapolis and Detroit coach Caldwell for their job. Caldwell met Wednesday, Jan. 2, with general manager John Dorsey and others on the search committee at the team’s facility in Berea, Ohio. The team is confirming interviews after they are completed. (AP Photo/Gary Landers, File)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell on the sideline against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (Rick Osentoski via AP Images)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
FILE - In an Oct. 30, 2016 file photo, Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell gives directions to his players during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, in Houston. Detroit on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, fired Caldwell, dismissing a coach who received a multiyear contract extension before the season. (AP Photo/George Bridges, File)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell addresses the media after an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell watches against the Cleveland Browns during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell walks on the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell greets wide receiver Marvin Jones during pregame of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell watch against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell watches from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell watches his team play during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills won 27-17. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell stands on the sideline in the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell stands on the sideline in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell signals from the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2017, file photo, Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Indianapolis Colts, in Indianapolis. The Lions open their season on Sept. 10 against the Arizona Cardinals. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell signals from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New York Jets, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell gestures during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell talks with referee Bill Vinovich during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell on the sideline against the Chicago Bears during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell stands on the sideline during the first half of an NFL exhibition football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Jared Wickerham)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell yells to his players during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2014, file photo, Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell walks on the field during an NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field in Detroit. The Detroit Lions have retained coach Jim Caldwell for a third season. Lions general manager Bob Quinn announced the move Friday, Jan. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski, File)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell stands on the sideline in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
FILE - In this Nov. 22, 2015, file photo, Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell signals during the first half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, in Detroit. The Detroit Lions have retained coach Jim Caldwell for a third season. Lions general manager Bob Quinn announced the move Friday, Jan. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski, File)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell works the sideline in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell walks on the sideline before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell walks onto the field during pre-game of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell talks to line judge Carl Johnson (101) during an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2016, file photo, Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, in Chicago. The Detroit Lions have retained coach Jim Caldwell for a third season. Lions general manager Bob Quinn announced the move Friday, Jan. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell looks on as the Lions play the San Diego Chargers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell walks towards the referees during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell watches from the sideline in the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell on the sideline against the Cleveland Browns during a preseason NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell looks on as the Lions play the San Diego Chargers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell meets with players during warmups of an NFL preseason football game against the New York Jets, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell watches his team in the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell watches from the sideline in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Frederick Breedon)
Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell walks the sidelines against the Cleveland Browns in the second half of a preseason NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell looks on in the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
