The NFC South will be adding a new head coach for next season, as the Carolina Panthers are reportedly set to hire Baylor’s Matt Rhule.
Panthers are giving former Baylor HC Matt Rhule a seven-year – seven year – deal worth $60 million that with incentives could be worth up to $70 million, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2020
One other cost for Carolina hiring Matt Rhule: Panthers paid Baylor a $6 million buyout to hire their new head coach, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2020
Rhule will replace former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, who was fired by the Panthers during the season after almost nine years. Rivera was the Panthers’ winningest head coach with a record of 76-63-1. He led the team to Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season, when the Panthers went an NFL-best 15-1.
The hiring of Rhule is surprising not just because he’s coming from the college ranks, but because the Panthers are giving him such an insanely large contract. Rhule helped turn Baylor’s football program around, going 11-3 this past season after they went just 1-11 in 2017, his first year with the school, but his lack of NFL experience should be cause for concern. He spent just one season in the NFL, back in 2012 as an offensive line assistant for the New York Giants.
Rhule’s first major decision will likely be what becomes of franchise quarterback Cam Newton. Rhule will also be joining a division filled with experienced head coaches. New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has won a Super Bowl. Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn has led his team to a Super Bowl appearance of their own. And, Bruce Arians is a two-time NFL Coach of the Year.
No pressure, right?
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