AFLE PANTHERS AIM TO BE COOKING WITH RICE
Panthers Wrocław have strengthened their backroom staff ahead of the 2026 AFLE season with the addition of Jeb Rice as quarterback and wide receiver coach.
Rice arrives with a background rooted in NCAA Division I programmes at South Alabama and Wake Forest, as well as experience at Quarterback Country, one of the United States’ leading specialist training centres. There, under David Morris, he worked with players ranging from high school prospects to NFL talent, developing a reputation for technical detail, and particularly in throwing mechanics and footwork.
His decision to join the Polish franchise was shaped by both the vision of head coach Dave Likins and the environment around the team.
“After speaking with Coach Likins, during which he shared his coaching history and successes over the years, he explained how committed the Wrocław community is to the Panthers’ future success,” Rice said. “He also mentioned the talent within the current roster. Looking at these three aspects, I thought to myself: this is a place where you can not only win games, but also enjoy life in the meantime.”
Rice steps into a European environment where player pathways differ significantly from the American system, but he sees adaptability as central to his approach.
“I believe that coaching football can be complicated no matter where you coach! Players from the southern United States learn differently than those from the north. The same is true for residents of large cities and small, rural towns. I think our job as coaches is to take a step back; Observing, getting to know our players, and shaping your teaching style to best help them.”
That flexibility is paired with a dual positional background that he believes can bridge the gap between quarterbacks and receivers — a relationship that often defines offensive success.
“Teaching wide receivers the purpose of a play is one of the most important aspects of the position,” Rice explained. “Helping them understand why they do what they do makes them proud of their individual roles! It also helps them understand the quarterback’s expectations and how their work facilitates his job.”
Building that connection quickly will be a priority during preseason, with Rice pointing to repetition and familiarity as the foundation of cohesion.
“One of the key things I think helps QBs and WRs is regular ‘Routes on Air’ sessions (running routes without defenders),” he said. “Throwing the ball together every day, working on timing and space, and getting comfortable with each player’s speed and the way they run routes. Every player is different, and the more they throw to each other, the better the quarterbacks understand the differences between the wide receivers. They start to synchronize without even noticing it and that’s a beautiful sight.”
Technically, Rice’s focus begins from the ground up, with footwork a particular area of emphasis.
“Lower body work is something that quarterbacks in today’s football are under-trained. Specifically, footwork!” he said. “A senior coach once told me, ‘If you look at a quarterback’s feet, you can immediately tell how confident he is in what he’s doing’. I took that to heart, started observing what he was talking about, and it was amazing. I have specific drills I plan to implement here to help our QBs, It just takes time and confidence building.”
Ultimately, however, Rice sees confidence, rather than scheme or structure, as the defining factor in early-season success.
“I believe the absolute key thing for quarterbacks and wide receivers to develop before the season is confidence,” he said. “If you know what you’re doing and trust the players around you to do the same, big plays will happen naturally. Being confident will allow them to play quickly and freely as a unit. They need to trust their training and their God-given skills! If we can achieve this, we’ll be successful as a group of skill players.”
As the Panthers prepare for the AFLE campaign, Rice’s arrival signals a clear intent to refine the finer details of offensive play and to ensure that execution matches ambition when the season begins.