Well I just heard the news today... that Ben Jacobs has been named the assistant special teams coordinator for the Panthers. Jacobs replaces Heath Farwell, who left Carolina to be the Buffalo Bills’ special teams coordinator.

Ben Jacobs is Panthers’ new asst special teams coach, per source.

Natural fit for the former Creedbombing star. — Joe Person (@josephperson) February 12, 2019

The Panthers released Jacobs yesterday prior to him becoming a free agent in March, and there was speculation that coaching was in his future. It appears that speculation was true.

Jacobs joins Chase Blackburn on the Panthers’ special teams coaching staff.

In news that is sure to rival the response to Eric Reid signing a new three year contract earlier today, the Carolina Panthers have granted linebacker and special teamer Ben Jacobs his release, per Field Yates.

The Panthers have released LB/core special teamer Ben Jacobs, per source. He was scheduled to be a free agent in March but can now sign with any team immediately. — Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 11, 2019

As alluded to in the above tweet, this makes Ben Jacobs eligible to be signed by any team immediately as opposed to being forgotten about in the free agent frenzy. Moves like this are usually extended as an act of courtesy to players who have decent tenure on a team, but for whatever reason are not going to be re-signed. The Panthers don’t owe him any additional money, and this allows him to garner some attention during a time where not a lot is happening across the league other than re-signings.

This also means that Jacobs could find his way back onto the team anyway, should he not garner much interest in the open market, as right now the Panthers need to keep their cap options open for other priority signings.

We wish Ben Jacobs the best, as he has been a good special teamer for us for quite awhile. Maybe he’ll get a chance to play more linebacker somewhere else in the league.