Former NFL GM says Scott Fitterer allows Panthers to cast wide net in coaching search
The Carolina Panthers have cast a wide net in their search for a new head coach.
As of Monday, the Panthers have interviewed three experienced head coaches — including interim head coach Steve Wilks — and requested to speak with seven coaches from other clubs. That request list is filled with young offensive coordinators.
And while some owners have become fixated on finding the next Sean McVay, others are hoping to find a proven winner. Panthers owner David Tepper and GM Scott Fitterer clearly want to take a deep dive into the former category, while also making sure they leave no stone unturned with the experienced leaders.
Former Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints GM Randy Mueller — who now serves as director of player personnel for the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons — believes that Fitterer’s personality allows the Panthers to keep their options open with the search.
“The good thing Carolina has going for it is Scott can get along with almost anybody,” Mueller said in a phone conversation on Friday. “He’s honest, he’s authentic, he’s not ego-driven. I think that stuff is paramount, but that means that (he) can cast a wide net to find a coach.”
Mueller says that like the quarterback-head coach relationship, the GM-head coach relationship is a “vital” partnership for an NFL franchise.
Fitterer has never been part of a head coach hiring process as GM before. He is working with Tepper and his wife, Nicole — chief administrative officer of Tepper Sports and Entertainment — to find Matt Rhule’s permanent replacement.
Mueller says that replacement needs to be someone who can work with Fitterer effectively.
“You’ve got to find the guy who is good for Scott,” Mueller said. “Is Scott going to be there? Then we have to find the guy that’s good for him. And don’t limit those selections based on the guy that can’t give a good presentation.”
The Panthers have already spoken with Wilks, former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell and former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich. All three former head coaches have had their ups and downs in the league. They have history at the top position.
But the list of potential first-timers — including Lions offensive coordinator and Asheville native Ben Johnson — are unknown entities.
Johnson and fellow candidates such as Shane Steichen of the Philadelphia Eagles, Mike Kafka of the New York Giants and Ken Dorsey of the Buffalo Bills have limited experience as play-callers. Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is the youngest candidate on the list at 34, and has the most play-calling experience — four seasons — of the group.
And while some owners and GMs would be turned off by hiring a young coach to be the CEO of their franchise, Mueller believes finding the right fit for the organization is more important than age or experience.
“I don’t think I have a firm stance,” Mueller said. “I’m more interested in the right person. The right guy, the leader for our team, and where our team is at. The right guy this year might not have been the right guy two years ago, or vice versa. So, I don’t think you can have a firm stance, but you do need a criteria of things that are really important to you, based on Matt Rhule leaving, Steve Wilks taking over — you’re going to have a different criteria than a year ago.”
Mueller sat through several head coaching interviews during his time in Miami and New Orleans. While some head coaches prefer to make presentations, Mueller is more interested in a candidate’s intangibles.
“I am looking to see relationships, personalities, football acumen, alignment,” Mueller said. “I’m not going to be swayed by fancy computer presentations — that really doesn’t do much for me, because the minute you sit in that chair, you’re going to have to fix stuff (laughs). So, it’s not as simple as how you present to the team. In fact, you may be removed from that, most of the time. It’s really about how you deal with people. Can you make a difference on Sundays and keep everybody on the same page until next the Sunday? However you can extract that information is helpful.”
Candidates can reveal their work habits and personality traits during their initial interviews. Some are willing to collaborate on coaching staffs, while others bring in their set wish lists.
The latter approach can turn off the search party, according to Mueller.
“I take it with a grain of salt, because we haven’t sat down and discussed the criteria yet together,” Mueller said. “And I think in a lot of these cases, none of us are smarter than all of us, and I know my history has been — whether it was with Jim Haslett or Dennis Erickson or really anybody — you’d hope to have a discussion on all of this stuff. So, a predetermined coaching staff is a little bit of a — I guess — red flag at times, in that you’re not interested in input from anybody any time, you know? . . . I understand that a good plan has to be executed, and that might be your wish list, but there may be some other things that might change the criteria for each one of these jobs. I’m less concerned about names and more concerned about the criteria for a positional coach.”
There is also the matter of whether or not the candidate wants to call plays along with being the head coach.
Most candidates become hot names on the carousel because of their play-calling ability, but history has shown that wearing both hats can be incredibly difficult, especially for first-time head coaches.
“That route is littered with people it hasn’t worked out for,” Mueller said. “It’s a big jump. I think you really got to know the person, you really got to know what makes them tick, and you really got to know what happens under the brightest lights and who he is. It’s not about computer presentations — trust me it’s not.”
The Teppers will be heavily involved in identifying the Panthers’ next head coach. And while ownership input can sometimes lead to disaster in the NFL, Mueller believes the ownership group is a valued asset in identifying the right individual to lead the team on and off the field.
“I think the thought of an owner being involved scares some people, but it would excite me,” Mueller said. “There’s experience, there’s business acumen. There’s all these things that have to go into hiring a football coach, and I would welcome that.”
The Teppers are looking for the new face of their organization, while Fitterer is looking for a partner. The collaboration between the top decision-makers will lead to the next leader of the Panthers’ locker room.
Ultimately, Mueller believes the Panthers’ brain trust should focus more on the candidate and not his presentation or resume.
“It’s not about finding the best play-caller,” Mueller said. “It’s about finding the best person, leader, communicator, chief football on-the-field guy.”
This story was originally published January 16, 2023 at 5:15 AM.
