Panthers head coach, GM search tracker: Evero, Monken and Macdonald interview virtually
The Panthers are searching for two new leaders to guide their organization.
With former general manager Scott Fitterer’s dismissal on Monday, the Panthers are hitting the ground running with their searches to replace him and former head coach Frank Reich.
Roughly 24 hours after their 2-15 campaign ended, a flood of interview requests were sent to the league for both GM and head coach candidates.
The Panthers have retained consulting firm, Sportsology, to help advise both searches, a league source confirmed to The Observer.
Here is the latest on the Panthers’ head coach and general manager searches.
Head coach search: Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero among four to interview virtually
▪ Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald (interviewed virtually Thursday)
The Panthers announced that Macdonald interviewed for the top coaching job virtually on Thursday. Macdonald was available to interview this week with the Ravens on their first-round playoff bye.
The Ravens are streaking into the playoffs with one of the best defenses we’ve seen in years. Macdonald has anchored that outstanding attack over the past two seasons. Just 36, Macdonald has a ton of upside as a coach. It’ll be interesting to see if Macdonald “wows” Tepper in interviews as a defensive-minded play-caller.
▪ Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken (interviewed virtually Thursday)
The Panthers announced Thursday that Monken spoke with the team virtually about their head coach opening. Carolina was able to interview Monken because the Ravens have a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Monken, 57, is coming off his first season with the Ravens. The former University of Georgia offensive coordinator has helped put Lamar Jackson in the MVP conversation (again) this season. The Chargers have also reportedly requested an interview with him.
▪ Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero (interviewed virtually Thursday)
The Panthers announced Thursday night that Evero interviewed virtually for the head coach job. Evero, 43, furnished a standout defense on a league-worst Carolina team and helped bring out the best in 2020 defensive lineman Derrick Brown, who had a career year in Evero’s 3-4 scheme. The Panthers only allowed 293.9 yards a game by the end of the regular season — fourth-best in the NFL.
▪ Carolina Panthers special teams coordinator Chris Tabor (interview virtually Wednesday)
Carolina fans who stuck around for the second half of the doomed 2023 season are well-acquainted with Chris Tabor, the 52-year-old special teams coordinator who took over as interim head coach after Frank Reich was fired. Tabor supervised a 1-5 finish to the season while also managing the Panthers’ stellar special teams unit. He was recently named one of the Top 5 highest rated special teams coordinators by players, per an NFLPA report earlier this month.
Panthers interview requests: Callahan, Slowik among those requested for head coach vacancy
▪ Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson (interview request confirmed by league source to The Observer)
Johnson, 36, inherited the offensive coordinator role after previously serving as the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach from 2021-22. As OC, Philadelphia scored 25.5 points a game (seventh in NFL) and averaged 354.4 yards per game (eighth) in the 2023 regular season. He was also Florida’s offensive coordinator in 2020.
▪ Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan (team requested interview Monday)
Callahan, 39, comes from a coaching family. He is the son of former Raiders head coach Bill Callahan. The younger Callahan has been been mentoring former first overall pick, quarterback Joe Burrow, over the past four seasons while helping the Bengals win AFC North titles in 2021 and ‘22. He has an extensive background with coaching quarterbacks, including Derek Carr in Oakland and Matthew Stafford in Detroit.
▪ Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales (team requested interview Monday)
Canales, 42, is coming off his first season as the Buccaneers’ offensive play-caller. The longtime Seattle Seahawks position coach has a background with assistant GM Dan Morgan, who has been retained as of Monday. Canales guided former Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield through a season in which he put up over 4,000 passing yards and 28 touchdowns as the Bucs won the NFC South for the third consecutive year.
▪ Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik (team requested interview Monday)
Slowik, 36, has done wonders with rookie quarterback CJ Stroud — the second pick behind Bryce Young in the 2023 NFL Draft — and the Texans’ offense this season. The first-year play-caller has spread the field and created big plays all year. A member of the lauded Shanahan tree, Slowik has been able to quickly rise in the coaching conversation after landing the Houston job last year. The Texans won the AFC South, in part, because of Slowik’s phenomenal play-calling. The Commanders have also requested to interview Slowik.
▪ Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn (team requested interview Monday)
Quinn, 53, is a former head coach with a vast background in the NFC South. Quinn led the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl loss, but he has since rejuvenated his career with the Cowboys in Arlington. Quinn is likely to be the most sought-after retread coach on the market. Like Canales, he has a history with Morgan, who is still running the personnel department.
▪ Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (team requested interview Monday)
The UNC alum and Asheville native has been the talk of coaching world all season. Billed as a rising star, Johnson, 37, has led a top-10 offense in each of his two play-calling campaigns in Detroit. The Lions are surging into the playoffs, and Johnson is likely focused on that run at the moment. Still, he has long been considered a favorite target of Panthers owner David Tepper. The Commanders have also requested an interview with Johnson.
▪ Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith (team requested interview Monday)
While Mike McDaniel calls the plays in Miami, Smith has been credited for his scheme work behind the scenes. The 42-year-old coordinator could appeal to Tepper as an offensive mind without the need to call plays. A fast-rising coach, Smith has a background coaching tight ends and offensive linemen. He could be the first-year CEO type coach with the most appeal on the market.
▪ Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris (team requested interview Monday)
The former Tampa Bay head coach has worked on both sides of the ball since his departure from the Buccaneers in 2012. Morris helped the Rams win a Super Bowl just two seasons ago, and he has a background with Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, as well as a few other members of his staff. The 47-year-old coach could get his second chance this offseason.
General manager search: Panthers’ Dan Morgan, Cowboys’ Will McClay in the mix
▪ Panthers VP of football administration Samir Suleiman (team acknowledge future interview Wednesday)
Suleiman previously interviewed for the GM job in 2021. The chief negotiator in the front office has worked to heighten his scouting profile over the past couple of years, evaluating draft talent at pro days this past offseason. Suleiman has worked for the Rams, Jaguars and Steelers and is known for his contract negotiating prowess. He was also part of the Panthers’ leadership committee last offseason, which hired former head coach Frank Reich and zeroed in on Bryce Young as the No. 1 overall pick. Suleiman, though known as a numbers guys, did play college football at James Madison.
▪ Detroit Lions chief operating officer Mike Disner (team requested interview Wednesday)
Disner is in his 16th season in the NFL and his fourth with the Lions. In May 2022, he was named COO and oversees the team’s football operations and football administration. He also leads the team’s strategy and revenue teams, per the Lions’ website, and is considered a fast-rising young executive.
▪ Panthers assistant GM Dan Morgan (expected to interview, league source confirmed to The Observer)
Morgan, 45, is in the running to replace his longtime friend, Fitterer, as the Panthers’ GM. Morgan has already made a few roster moves since Fitterer was fired Monday. He will now look to get a promotion for the team he played for during his linebacker days. Morgan has guided the Panthers’ personnel department over the past three years under Fitterer.
▪ Cowboys VP of player personnel Will McClay (interest reported by SI’s Albert Breer Tuesday)
McClay, 57, has worked for the Cowboys since 2003. The longtime scout worked his way up the personnel ladder from pro scout to pro scouting coordinator to assistant director of player personnel to his current job, which he’s had since 2017. McClay has been instrumental in building the roster for the NFC East champions.
UPDATE: According to a league source, as of Tuesday morning, the Panthers haven’t put in a formal request to speak with McClay. However, with the search being a fluid process, that request could be made in the future.
▪ Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown (team requested interview Monday)
Coming off his second season with the Giants, Brown should be in the discussion for multiple GM jobs this offseason. Brown previously worked his way up in the Eagles’ organization before joining forces with Giants GM Joe Schoen in the Meadowlands. Brown is a more traditional personnel-driven candidate. However, with working under Schoen, he has been exposed to the ins and outs of front office operations.
▪ Chiefs VP of football operations Brandt Tilis (team requested interview Monday)
Tilis is among a handful of salary-cap strategists on this list. A longtime Chiefs front office member, Tilis previously interviewed for the Panthers GM job in 2021. With the Panthers seemingly keeping their options open, Tilis is one of the top executive candidates in the league. Tilis could be the type of analytical mind that Tepper covets.
▪ Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby (team requested interview Monday)
Halaby is a somewhat unconventional candidate. While working under GM Howie Roseman for 16 years, Halaby has risen up the ranks as a football strategist. While he is involved in roster management and player evaluation, he’s not a typical “football guy” with an extensive scouting background. But, as the league continues to change its tune on the GM position, Halaby might be the type of unique strategist to give Carolina an edge in the front office. The team requested an interview Monday, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that he’ll interview for the Panthers’ GM job on Friday, adding that the Panthers “have been especially eyeing Halaby for quite some time.”
▪ Buccaneers assistant GM Mike Greenberg (team requested interview Monday)
Greenberg has a salary-cap management background. Coming off his first season as Tampa Bay assistant GM, Greenberg as been an administrative lieutenant for Jason Licht and the NFC South-winning Buccaneers. Tepper is a numbers-oriented thinker, and Greenberg falls in line with that outlook. He obviously has a connection to Canales after this season.
▪ Ravens VP of football administration Nick Matteo (team requested interview Monday)
The Ravens have an excellent front office, and Matteo handles contract negotiations for the team. Having learned under the likes of GM Eric DeCosta and legendary exec Ozzie Newsome, Matteo has a background and pedigree that should be appealing to Tepper. He has worked with both Monken and Macdonald in Baltimore. Matteo also has plenty of experience with the operational aspects of an organization.
▪ Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds (team requested interview Monday)
Dodds has been Colts GM Chris Ballard’s right-hand man since 2018. While the Colts have had uneven success during his tenure as assistant GM, Dodds has been among GM hiring discussions for the past few years. Dodds has been working with NFL personnel since 2007. He has a background with the Seahawks, which could connect him with Quinn or Canales.
▪ Raiders interim GM Champ Kelly (team requested interview Monday)
Kelly was part of an impressive second-half turnaround with the Raiders this season. Kelly took over for former Raiders GM Dave Ziegler after he was fired midseason. Las Vegas finished 8-9 after a stellar effort by Kelly and interim head coach Antonio Pierce. Kelly has worked in NFL front offices since 2008 and has spent time with the Raiders, Broncos and Bears during his long career.
▪ Saints assistant GM Khai Harley (team requested interview Monday)
Harley has spent the past 16 seasons learning from Saints GM Mickey Loomis. Harley has an interesting background that has allowed him to work with contract negotiations, scouting and roster management. He has also worked for the league in its labor operations department.
NFL teams searching for head coaches, general managers
The Panthers aren’t the only NFL franchises with substantive hires to make this offseason. Here’s a look at the teams who will be pulling from the same candidate pools this month.
▪ NFL teams without head coaches include the Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers and Panthers.
UPDATE: The Patriots promoted linebackers coach Jerod Mayo to head coach on Friday, according to multiple reports.
▪ NFL teams without general managers include the Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, and Panthers.
UPDATE: The Commanders have hired former 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters as their new GM, according to ESPN.
This story was originally published January 9, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
