Panthers coach Ron Rivera’s staff has undergone some seismic changes already this offseason. That trend continued today with the news of another assistant moving on. According to a piece by Bryan Strickland at the official team website, long-time running backs coach Jim Skipper has retired from the NFL after 32 years.
Skipper got his start in the league as the Saints running backs coach back in 1986. He stayed in that position until 1995. Next, Skipper held the same role for the Cardinals and Giants. In 2001, he had a brief interlude as head coach of the San Francisco Demons in Vince McMahon’s first effort at the XFL.
The next season, he came back to the NFL as Carolina’s running backs coach. For the next nine years, Skipper held that title. Along the way, he helped DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart both become 1,000 yard rushers.
In 2011 he jumped ship to the Titans where he worked with Chris Johnson. He only stayed two seasons before returning to the Panthers, though.
Skipper’s final project may have been his finest work. Christian McCaffrey’s development since coming into the pros is nothing less than phenomenal and he’s already one of the elites at his position.
Skipper leaves behind a tremendous legacy and a massive hole to fill for Carolina’s coaching staff.
