Carolina Panthers fire three assistant coaches
Change is coming.
The Carolina Panthers have fired offensive line coach Pat Meyer, special teams coach Chase Blackburn and defensive line coach Frank Okam, per a source with knowledge of the situation.
That now leaves them with at least four open coaching spots to fill this offseason.
Those firings were not a surprise.
The Panthers’ offensive line was bad all season allowing 52 sacks, which was fifth-worst in the NFL. Special teams weren’t good, either. The Panthers went through three different punters and four different place kickers since the start of the preseason. The Panthers were 15th in the league in sacks per game and 18th in rushing yards allowed.
Blackburn, who played two seasons in Carolina, had been the special teams coordinator for the Panthers since 2018, before Rhule became head coach. He was assistant special teams coach for two years prior to that.
“Can’t thank the Panthers enough for my time as a player and a coach,” Blackburn tweeted. “Unfortunately all good things must come to an end. I wish nothing but the best to the city of Charlotte and all my Panthers players that I care so deeply for.”
Both Okam and Meyer spent two seasons with the Panthers.
Coach Matt Rhule said Monday that he would evaluate his coaching staff this offseason, meaning changes were likely to happen after a 5-12 season.
The Panthers are also actively trying to fill their vacant offensive coordinator job after firing offensive coordinator Joe Brady during the team’s bye week.
This story was originally published January 11, 2022 at 10:17 AM.
