Carolina Panthers head coach search tracker: Team negotiating with Bucs OC Dave Canales
The Panthers will field second interviews with head coach candidates this week, as the search continues for a new leader to guide Carolina’s crew into the future.
Monday marked the first opportunity for the Panthers to host in-person interviews with coaches who are employed by other NFL teams. The Panthers were previously able to speak with candidates through virtual interviews, with the team confirming 11 meetings during the first phase of the search.
The Panthers and owner David Tepper have been using advisory firm, Sportsology, in the search for head coach. The firm also helped with securing the hire of general manager — Dan Morgan, previously the Panthers’ assistant GM.
Here is everything we know about both searches.
Panthers to hire Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Dave Canales as next head coach
The Panthers are closing in on a deal to hire Dave Canales as their next head coach, a league source confirmed to The Charlotte Observer. NFL Network was the first to report the deal negotiations.
Canales, most recently the Buccaneers offensive coordinator, has supervised the respective resurgences of Geno Smith in Seattle and then, this year, of Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. The longtime NFL assistant coach has ties with newly promoted general manager Dan Morgan; the two worked together in Seattle.
“Dave Canales is an excellent play-caller,” a veteran NFL position coach familiar with Canales’ coaching style told The Observer. “He brings a lot of energy to the meetings with players. He’s very, very positive. He’s an uplifting kind of guy.
“He’s an easy guy to get along with, an easy guy to talk to, easy guy to play for. He’s very sophisticated with his screen packages, his play passes, marrying the run game, pass game. One of the best young minds. I cannot believe he just called plays for one year with the product that he just put out in Tampa. It’s very impressive. This guy — sky’s the limit. He’s the right type of guy to go through a rebuild with, if that is the case, because of his optimistic attitude and his work ethic.”
Here’s more on the initial news, and stay on The Observer’s website for more on the hiring.
Carolina hires from within for general manager
The Panthers chose to hire an internal candidate for general manager on Monday, electing to promote assistant general manager Dan Morgan to the head job. Morgan’s official title is President of Football Operations and General Manager, the team announced.
Morgan, 45, worked closely with his predecessor, Scott Fitterer, the past three seasons and has several ties to the Carolinas’ NFL franchise. He was drafted by the Panthers in 2001 and played in Carolina for seven seasons as a fixture in the team’s linebacking corps. He arrived as a front office executive in Carolina in 2021 with Fitterer — after finding success in Seattle and Buffalo in varying scouting/player personnel roles — and ran the Panthers’ personnel department for the past three seasons.
“Dan has a thorough knowledge of our football personnel and a clear vision to take us where we all want to go,” Tepper stated in a news release. “We know he will attack this opportunity with the same intensity he did as a Panthers player.”
The Panthers are expected to now look to hire another executive to succeed Morgan as assistant GM. See a few potential candidates for that position below.
Raheem Morris lands at Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons interviewed 14 different head coaching candidates — including Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel and Jim Harbaugh — but Raheem Morris got the job, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The news broke Thursday afternoon.
Morris, once the defensive coordinator (and interim head coach) for Atlanta, is getting another chance at a head coach job. His first run at it was when he was 33 years old in Tampa Bay.
Another note: The Falcons were the only team to interview Bill Belichick, and there are no known scheduled interviews for the coach only a handful of wins for most in NFL history.
Titans hire Callahan before second interview with Panthers
Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan won’t have a second interview with the Panthers after all.
Callahan was officially named the Tennessee Titans’ new head coach on Wednesday. Callahan was reportedly set to meet with the Panthers on Tuesday following Morgan’s promotion to president of football operations/general manager.
Panthers’ head coach search
▪ Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales: The Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield quarterback developer will be the Panthers’ next head coach. He virtually interviewed last week and had a second, in-person interview Wednesday, a league source confirmed to The Observer.
▪ Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel: He will interview with the Panthers on Thursday, a league source confirmed to The Observer. ESPN and The Athletic had it first. Read in The Observer why his candidacy in Carolina underscores just how loaded this offseason’s coaching candidate pool is. Other reported interviews: Atlanta.
▪ Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris: After virtually interviewing with the Panthers and having a second, in-person interview Wednesday, according to NFL Network, Morris decided to go another direction. He was hired by the Atlanta Falcons, according to NFL Network on Thursday. Other reported interviews/requests: Seahawks, Commanders and Chargers.
▪ Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero: Virtually interviewed (in-person second interview scheduled for Monday, according to NFL Network). Other reported interviews: Falcons (had second interview with Atlanta on Wednesday) and Seahawks.
▪ Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken: Virtually interviewed. Other interview: Chargers. Not eligible to interview in person this week.
▪ Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald: Virtually interviewed. Other reported interviews/requests: Falcons, Chargers, Titans, Seahawks and Commanders. Not eligible to interview in person this week.
▪ Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson: Virtually interviewed. Other reported interviews/requests: Seahawks, Falcons, Chargers, Commanders and Titans. Not eligible to interview in person this week.
▪ Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik: Virtually interviewed. Other reported interviews/requests: Falcons, Seahawks, Titans and Commanders
▪ Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn: Virtually interviewed. Other reported interviews/requests: Chargers, Seahawks, Titans and Commanders.
▪ Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson: Interview requested. Other interviews: Falcons and Titans.
▪ Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith: Virtually interviewed. Other reported interview/request: Seahawks.
▪ Panthers special teams coordinator Chris Tabor: Virtually interviewed.
All previous Panthers GM candidates
▪ Panthers assistant GM Dan Morgan: Had a second interview last week. His hiring was announced by the team Monday night.
▪ Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby: Had a second interview last week, per NFL Network.
▪ Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown: Had a second interview last week, per NFL Network
▪ Ravens VP of football administration Nick Matteo: Had first interview last week, per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
▪ Chiefs VP of football operations Brandt Tilis: Had first interview last week, per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
▪ Raiders interim GM Champ Kelly: Had first interview last week, per Las Vegas Review-Journal.
▪ Saints assistant GM Khai Harley: Had first interview last week, per Nick Underhill of NOF Network.
▪ Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds: Had first interview last week, per ESPN.
▪ Buccaneers assistant GM Mike Greenberg: Announced as initial candidate.
▪ Panthers VP of football administration Samir Suleiman: Announced as initial candidate.
Other coaching news related to Panthers
▪ Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown: Had an in-person interview for Tennessee Titans head coach, as confirmed by The Observer. He also has an interview scheduled this week for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator opening, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
▪ Lions chief operating officer Mike Disner: Withdrew from the Panthers’ GM search, per NFL Network.
NFL coaching rules to consider for Carolina Panthers
▪ When do in-person interviews begin? Starting Monday, teams can host in-person interviews with candidates who are employed by teams who aren’t in the postseason at that time. If a team hasn’t had a virtual interview with a candidate participating in the AFC or NFC Conference Championship Games before that round, they can’t interview a candidate. Teams can conduct second interviews — in-person or virtual — with coaches working in the Super Bowl from Monday, Jan. 29 to Sunday, Feb. 4. After Feb. 4, contact is prohibited.
▪ When can hirings be made? Teams can’t officially hire head coaching candidates until their current team is out of the playoffs. A new GM hire can be made any time, so long as the Rooney Rule is satisfied.
▪ Rooney Rule head coach consideration. As in prior years, teams must interview at least two persons of color and/or women for the head coach position — in person — before filling the vacancy to satisfy the Rooney Rule.
This story was originally published January 22, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
