Why Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard exemplifies everything HC Dave Canales wants in Carolina
When the Carolina Panthers closed in on their contract extension agreement with running back Chuba Hubbard on Thursday, head coach Dave Canales was excited to keep one of his top playmakers in the fold for the foreseeable future.
Hubbard, who was set to become a free agent in 2025, inked a four-year, $33.2 million contract extension ahead of the Panthers’ trip to Munich, Germany, to face the New York Giants on Sunday. Canales, who arrived with the team Friday morning, said the front office — led by GM Dan Morgan and EVP of football operations Brandt Tilis — worked on the contract negotiations for a couple of weeks before an agreement was reached.
And with that agreement came clarity for both the running back and the head coach.
“It takes me back to — and I’m not comparing him to this player — but it takes me back to in 2010 where the Seahawks traded for Marshawn Lynch right before the (trade) deadline, and it was about looking for the style, looking for the attitude, the toughness that fit the kind of football team that we want to be,” Canales said at the Bayern FC Munich complex Friday. “And I thought that, as we went through those first games early on, and really just consistently through, Chuba has represented what I’m looking for as far as the run game goes, and as far as the mentality of the players we’re looking for. And so I just couldn’t be happier.
“And when I found out that the deal was getting done, it was just like — I was so excited. And Chuba and I shared a cool moment — just because it takes both sides. He’s got to believe in what we’re doing, and we believe in what he does. So I’m glad we were able to find that and get it done.”
Hubbard, who currently ranks fifth in the NFL with 665 rushing yards, is having a career season after his 2023 breakout campaign.
While the Panthers have invested a second-round pick in rookie Jonathon Brooks and are paying backup Miles Sanders a guaranteed $4 million salary this season, Hubbard has been the centerpiece of the Carolina offense all season. Hubbard has also been a leader in the locker room and someone Canales can lean on for examples of strong work ethic and commitment to the program.
“Chuba, since the day I got here, he’s been a guy that’s just really conscientious about everything,” Canales said. “He goes about his preparation, his body care, studying — just being really meticulous with things — and he doesn’t really talk a lot, but when he does, his message is on point. We talked about wanting to run the ball, playing complementary football, and that’s kind of been the highlight of our team — the most consistent part of what we’re doing is being able to find the run game. And he runs with the right attitude, the right style.
“I thought it was really important that we got this done. I’m so glad that both sides felt the same way about each other. Chuba and our organization, Dan and Brandt taking to him, and working through those things, they did a great job of it. But these are the guys that we want around here. The guys that stand for all those things. We talk a lot about our play style — great effort, great enthusiasm, great toughness, playing smart, and finish. I don’t think there’s a guy on our team that exemplifies those things more than Chuba. So we’re really excited to have him here for a while.”
Panthers’ locker room elated over Hubbard’s new deal
Hubbard has been the focal point of the Panthers’ offense since Week 1. He’s been dependable and durable, and he rarely loses yardage on the field. He’s also been one of the hardest workers in the building throughout his time with the team.
His work ethic and standout production have made a him an admired member of the roster. That’s why his teammates were thrilled for him when he put pen to paper on the four-year extension.
“We were all just super, super happy for him,” QB Bryce Young said. “People don’t know how much he works, how much time he puts in and spends in that building — how much he cares about the team.”
Hubbard, like many of his teammates, has seen talented players come and go from the Panthers’ locker room over the past four years. But unlike Christian McCaffrey, Frankie Luvu, Brian Burns, D.J. Moore and Jeremy Chinn, Hubbard has a future in Carolina. That’s good news for those who work with him on the daily grind.
“Couldn’t have happened to a better person, better football player,” center Cade Mays said. “He does everything the way it’s supposed to be done. Great leader in the locker room. Just somebody you want to have on your team, a guy you want to hand the ball to.”
While Hubbard is humble, he remains committed to his craft. He has confidence in his ability, and he wants to continue to push to be better.
After a couple of tough seasons to begin his NFL career, Hubbard has hit his stride in the back end of his rookie contract. And he has now been rewarded with a huge extension that will last into his prime years.
The 25-year-old can look back on his early struggles and smile after receiving a life-changing contract from his first and only NFL team. He’s been wanting this his entire life.
“As a little kid, I think (a younger Hubbard) would be proud, but he wouldn’t be shocked, because as a little kid I had that dream,” Hubbard said. “And when you’re a little kid, you have that innocence where you believe anything can happen. And then other people kind of tell you you can’t or that’s impossible, but one thing about me, ever since I was young, I just had the belief that I could do anything. And I’ve never lost that, so obviously it takes a lot of work and dedication, and like I said, a lot of people around you to help you get there. (A young Hubbard) would definitely be proud — definitely shocked in some ways, but not shocked in others.
“And then just to go from earlier in my career here with the Panthers to now — it just shows that the dedication and effort and work it took, it wasn’t easy at all — I’ve still got a lot of ways to go, I’ve still got a lot of things to work on, and I’m going to do that. I’m blessed for this opportunity to get an extension, but I’m still hungrier than ever. I want to be great, and like I said, I want to change things here.”
What is Jonathon Brooks’ status for Week 10?
While chatting with media in Munich, Canales made running back Jonathon Brooks’ status seem truly “questionable” heading into the Week 10 matchup at Allianz Arena. Brooks was taken off the non-football injury list Wednesday out of necessity, but that doesn’t mean the Panthers will trot out the second-round pick immediately.
“We’ll see if he’s up and then we’ll go from there,” Canales said.
The Panthers have the luxury of a Week 11 bye in a campaign that got off to a 2-7 start. While they want to beat the Giants, pushing Brooks out there after nearly a year on the shelf probably won’t turn the tide one way or another, and the bye week would give him another week to rev up before his potential debut.
While that’s probably not what spectators are hoping for, there is logic in not rushing the rookie back onto a foreign field when he hasn’t taken proper game contact since last November. Ultimately, the Panthers will have a tough decision to make ahead of Sunday.
Another couple of major decisions to monitor will be the statuses of safety Jordan Fuller and pass rusher D.J. Wonnum.
Fuller has been on injured reserve with a hamstring injury since Week 4, while Wonnum has been on the physically unable to perform list since the start of training camp. Both players still have parts of their respective practice windows available, but Canales made it sound like they could push for a return during the trip to Munich.
Both Wonnum and Fuller were listed as “questionable” Friday. Wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring), who is currently on injured reserve, was ruled out for the game, as was left tackle Ikem Ekwonu.
The Panthers will start Brady Christensen at left tackle and Cade Mays at center for a second consecutive week, according to Canales.
Here is the entire Panthers injury report for Week 10:
OUT: WR Adam Thielen (hamstring), OT Ikem Ekwonu (ankle)
Doubtful: DB Jammie Robinson (knee)
Questionable: RB Jonathon Brooks (knee), OLB Jadeveon Clowney (knee), DB Jordan Fuller (hamstring/IR), DB Lonnie Johnson (quad), TE Tommy Tremble (back), OLB D.J. Wonnum (quad/PUP)
Quick hits: International edition
▪ Augustiner Stammhaus, located in the heart of Munich’s city center, is serving as the Panthers fans’ home base for the weekend.
The restaurant and bar has been a popular spot for the Carolina faithful, with fans arriving as early as Monday. On Wednesday, the restaurant was filled with Bayern FC Munich fans ahead of the Champions League matchup against SL Benfica. But a handful of Panthers fans — much to the confusion of some locals — still let out some “Keep Pounding” chants.
The restaurant has been decked out in Panthers regalia, from signs to flags to mission statement phrases, throughout the week.
Panthers legends Luke Kuechly, Jon Beason, Steve Smith and Julius Peppers visited the place Friday morning. Owners David and Nicole Tepper also joined in on the celebration. The group also took part in a local beer-drinking game.
▪ Canales mentioned Friday that wide receiver David Moore sprained his MCL during the first month of the season, but he never missed a practice or a game. He said Moore’s commitment to playing through injury served as a meaningful example to the younger players in the wide receiver room. With Jonathan Mingo in Dallas and Diontae Johnson in Baltimore, Moore is likely to have a significant role for the remainder of the season, especially with Thielen still nursing a hamstring injury on injured reserve.
This story was originally published November 8, 2024 at 3:28 PM.
