The Carolina Panthers have three games left to play in the 2019 season. The real story will be what happens behind the scenes over these next few weeks, though. After firing coach Ron Rivera last week after nearly nine years, the team is expected to go in a different direction with its next hire.
Team owner David Tepper isn’t giving away too many specifics, but he does want the next coach to have input on the other big front office hire: the assistant general manager/VP of football operations gig. Here’s what Tepper told Albert Breer at Sports Illustrated.
“You’d like to have the head coach have some input into the AGM because that AGM will be involved in certain things that the head coaches is involved in too—training room, health and safety, the strength coach, sports science, all those things go together.”
That they do.
One major unsettled question will be what general manager Marty Hurney’s role will be. If he’s to stay in his current position, it could scare off potential candidates. Some recent reporting suggests Hurney will be stepping into more of an advisory role, though – leaving the real decisions to whomever Tepper plans to hire for this new position.
Who’s on Tepper’s list? It would make sense for him to hit up the Steelers for front office talent given his connections with that organization. Adam Schefter at ESPN reported on Sunday he is interested in two Pittsburgh executives: GM Kevin Colbert and VP Omar Khan.
Don’t expect Mike Tomlin to be involved. Tepper unequivocally shot down that rumor, essentially saying he wouldn’t want to cross Steelers owner Art Rooney.
Other coach candidates who are reported to be in the mix include Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman and former Packers coach Mike McCarthy.
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