Panthers coaching search tracker: Team requests interview with DeMeco Ryans
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is expected to cast a wide net to identify his next head coach.
Tepper will start with multiple interviews this week. As the list grows, The Charlotte Observer will continue to break down every potential candidate.
Here is the latest on the search as of Thursday:
Jerod Mayo
The Panthers have requested permission to interview New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, according to a league source. Mayo has received interviews from the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos in years past. Mayo is seen as a candidate who could work in a CEO type capacity, as he has never called plays during his NFL career. He played middle linebacker for the Patriots from 2008 to 2015 and eventually joined their staff in 2019 in his current role.
UPDATE: The Patriots announced on Thursday that they were working on a contract extension for Mayo which would keep him with the organization for the foreseeable future.
DeMeco Ryans
The Panthers requested to speak with San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans this week, according to league source. Ryans has been the 49ers defensive play-caller for the past two seasons. His units have finished third and first in total defense. This past season, Ryans’ defense finished first yards and points allowed. His group held the Panthers’ offense to 15 points in Week 5.
Kellen Moore
The Panthers requested permission to speak with Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on Wednesday, according to a league source. Moore, 34, is a former NFL backup quarterback. He last played for the Cowboys in 2017. The following year he traded his pads for a headset, becoming the team’s quarterback coach before turning 30. He quickly became the offensive coordinator after Scott Linehan was fired following the 2018 season. Since then, Moore has been calling plays for the Cowboys offense led by quarterback Dak Prescott. He’s considered a creative schemer who has gotten the best out of Dallas’ skill position players. Most notably backup running back Tony Pollard, who had a career season this year playing with Zeke Elliott.
Mike Kafka
The Panthers requested permission to speak with New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka on Tuesday, according to NFL Network. Kafka, 35, is a former NFL backup quarterback. He comes from the Andy Reid coaching tree, and he became a first-time play-caller under Giants head coach Brian Daboll this season. Kafka is still very new coaching and play-calling, but his appeal comes from his understanding of the position and his success with little talent this year.
Ken Dorsey
The Panthers requested an interview with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey on Monday, according to NFL Network. Dorsey, a former NFL quarterback, started his coaching career with the Panthers in 2013. Dorsey worked as a quarterbacks coach with the organization for five years. Dorsey is a first-year play-caller, who has done a nice job of replacing New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Dorsey is one of a handful of “QB gurus” to get an interview or interview request from the Panthers this week.
Shane Steichen
The Panthers requested permission to interview Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen on Monday night, a league source confirmed to The Observer. Steichen has spent the past two years in Philadelphia, and he took over play-calling duties midway through the 2021 season under head coach Nick Sirianni. Steichen has played a part in the impressive growth of quarterback Jalen Hurts and overseen the league’s third-ranked offense. Steichen has worked with Hurts, Justin Herbert and Philip Rivers throughout his career, and he has adapted to all three signal-callers’ style of play. The 37-year-old was a college quarterback at UNLV and could be seen as the type of coach who could develop a long-term franchise signal-caller.
Ben Johnson
The Panthers requested permission to speak with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson on Monday, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Johnson, a first-year play-caller, led the Lions offense to a historical turnaround this season. The Lions finished in the top five in the league in scoring and yardage this season. Johnson, an A.C. Reynolds High grad, was a walk-on quarterback at UNC, and he has been coaching in the NFL since 2011. At just 36, Johnson is one of the youngest upstarts on the coaching carousel.
Steve Wilks
Tepper plans to interview interim head coach Steve Wilks on Tuesday, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Observer. Wilks finished his 12-game stint as Matt Rhule’s replacement in 2022 with a 6-6 record. While it wasn’t always pretty, Wilks won more games in an abbreviated stint than Rhule won in either of his two full NFL seasons (5-11, 5-12). The Panthers closed out the season with a 10-7 road win over the New Orleans Saints. The Athletic’s Joe Person was the first to report Wilks’ interview date.
Frank Reich
The Panthers are expected to interview former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich, according to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer. Reich was dismissed by the Colts in the middle of the 2022 season. He spent nearly five years leading the Colts, and he developed a reputation as a sharp offensive schemer and play-caller. A former Panthers quarterback and longtime NFL backup, Reich has roots in the Carolinas and has a Super Bowl ring from his time as an offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles. Reich was 40-30-1 during his time with the Colts, and he led the team to the playoffs twice.
Jim Caldwell
The Panthers plan to interview former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell on Monday, according to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson. Caldwell hasn’t coached in the NFL since he was forced to leave the Miami Dolphins in 2019 due to health concerns. At the time, he was the Dolphins’ assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. Caldwell has had two separate tenures as a head coach and produced a 62-50 record in his seven combined years at the helm of those teams. The 68-year-old is known for his work with quarterbacks, namely Peyton Manning, Joe Flacco and Matthew Stafford. He led the Colts to an AFC title in 2009.
The Rooney Rule
The Panthers need to interview two external minority candidates prior to making an official offer. Wilks counts as an internal candidate, so his interview will not count toward the rule, which aims to promote opportunities for emerging minority coaches. Caldwell’s interview will count toward the rule.
Timeline
Coaches who are unemployed or work for a non-playoff team can be interviewed immediately. Coaches who work for teams in the playoffs can’t interview until next week.
Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton confirmed on FOX Sports on Sunday that he can’t interview until Jan. 17. Payton has two years remaining on his contract with the Saints, so Payton would need to be traded to head elsewhere. The Denver Broncos have already spoken with Payton — he confirmed — after asking for permission from the Broncos.
If the Panthers want to hire a coach in the playoffs, Tepper can’t officially offer and/or hire a candidate until his team is eliminated from the playoffs. If a candidate’s team makes it all the way to the Super Bowl, the Panthers will need to wait until after the annual Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl to make the hire.
History
The Panthers are searching for their sixth full-time head coach in team history. Along with the previous five head coaches, the Panthers have had two interim head coaches — Wilks, this season, and Perry Fewell in 2019.
Below are the records of the five full-time head coaches in Panthers history:
- Dom Capers (1995-98): 30-34
- George Seifert (1999-2001): 16-32
- John Fox (2002-10): 73-71
- Ron Rivera (2011-19): 76-63-1
- Matt Rhule (2020-22): 11-27
This story was originally published January 9, 2023 at 9:43 AM.
