Chris Tabor
Benedictine | |
| Undrafted: | 1993 |
|---|---|
| Career history | |
| As a coach: | |
| |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | 1–6 (.143) |
| Coaching stats at PFR | |
Chris Tabor (born March 4, 1971) is an
Early life and education
Tabor earned a degree in physical education in 1993 at
Coaching career
Early career
Tabor started his coaching career in 1993 as an assistant at his alma mater,
Missouri
In 1997, Tabor was hired by the University of Missouri as a graduate assistant. He would serve in that role for three years before being promoted to their running backs and special teams coach in 2000. While Tabor was there, the Tigers ranked in the nation's top 10 for rushing offense and they played in two bowl games.
Culver–Stockton College
In 2001, Tabor was hired as the head football coach at
Utah State
In 2002, Tabor joined Utah State University as their assistant head coach and wide receivers coach. In 2005, he served as their running backs and special teams coach.
Western Michigan University
Tabor spent two seasons (2006 and 2007) at Western Michigan University as the running backs and special teams coach.
Chicago Bears (first stint)
Tabor left college-level football and got his first shot in the National Football League (NFL) when he spent three seasons (2008–2010) as assistant special teams coach with the Chicago Bears. He worked under coordinator Dave Toub on head coach Lovie Smith's staff. During Tabor's tenure with the Bears, Chicago consistently ranked among the league leaders in numerous departments. The Bears ranked in the top five in no less than nine different special teams categories combined over that three-year period. Chicago led the NFL in total return yards (6,570) and kickoff return yards (5,415), posted the second-best kickoff return average (25.1), ranked third in punt return defense (7.1) and produced the fifth-best punt return average (10.4). The Bears also registered six total kick returns for touchdowns in that time, which tied for second-most in the league.[4]
Cleveland Browns
In 2011, Tabor was hired by the
Chicago Bears (second stint)
On January 12, 2018, Tabor returned to the Chicago Bears as their special teams coordinator under head coach Matt Nagy.[7]
On October 25, 2021, Nagy tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in Tabor taking over as the interim head coach. On October 31, Tabor made his NFL head coaching debut in the Bears' Week 8 game against the San Francisco 49ers, with the Bears suffering a 33-22 loss.
Carolina Panthers
On January 27, 2022, Tabor was hired by the Carolina Panthers as their special teams coordinator under head coach Matt Rhule.[8] On November 27, 2023, Tabor was named interim head coach after head coach Frank Reich was fired.[9] Tabor completed the season, leading the Panthers to a 1-5 record. On January 26, 2024, he was let go by the Panthers.[10][11]
Personal life
Tabor grew up in a football family; his father, Don, coached high school football in Missouri for 40 years and all of his brothers (Donnie, Matt and Michael) played football at Benedictine College.[12]
Tabor and his wife, Nikki (nee Graves), have two daughters, Paityn and Lainey.
Head coaching record
College
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Culver–Stockton Wildcats (Heart of America Athletic Conference ) (2001)
| |||||||||
| 2001 | Culver–Stockton | 6–5 | 5–5 | T–4th | |||||
| Culver–Stockton: | 6–5 | 5–5 | |||||||
| Total: | 6–5 | ||||||||
NFL
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| CHI* | 2021 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | |
| CHI total | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | |||
| CAR* | 2023 | 1 | 5 | 0 | .167 | 4th in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| CAR total | 1 | 5 | 0 | .167 | — | — | — | |||
| Total | 1 | 6 | 0 | .143 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |||
* Interim head coach
References
- ^ "Chris Tabor biography". ClevelandBrowns.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018.
- ^ "2017 Benedictine College Homecoming Features Hall of Fame Inductions". August 31, 2018.
- ^ "Guenther resigns as Culver-Stockton College football coach". October 7, 2009.
- ^ Cabot, Mary Kay (January 25, 2011). "Cleveland Browns hire former Bears assistant Chris Tabor as special teams coordinator". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ Hangst, Andrea (December 27, 2012). "Finally, Cleveland Browns Kicker Phil Dawson Makes the Pro Bowl". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
- ^ Matt, Florjancic (January 27, 2013). "Cribbs proud to make Pro Bowl". ClevelandBrowns.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ Finley, Patrick (January 12, 2018). "Chris Tabor is the Bears' new special teams coordinator". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (January 27, 2022). "Panthers agree to terms with Chris Tabor". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (November 27, 2023). "Panthers part ways with head coach Frank Reich". Panthers.com. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
- ^ "Report: Panthers will not retain Chris Tabor, allowing him to interview elsewhere". NBC Sports. January 26, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ "Check out the Legends Round Table". www.panthers.com. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ Matt, Florjancic (November 10, 2013). "Chris Tabor driven by memory of father, his coaching legacy". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved November 10, 2013.