For the first time in nine years, the Panthers are in need of a head coach. Carolina fired Ron Rivera after a semi-successful run, which included three division titles and a trip to the Super Bowl in 2015.
With the team trending down since that Super Bowl run, it was clear the Panthers needed a fresh start. Owner David Tepper will give it to them this offseason when he hires a new head coach this offseason. It’s unclear what Tepper will be looking for in his first coaching hire as the owner but some potential candidates have already popped up. Let’s rank those potential hires from best to worst…
1. Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma head coach
This is the dream for Panthers fans, but it’s probably not going to happen. Maybe if Cam Newton were fully healthy, Riley could be convinced to leave Norman. But with the quarterback situation in doubt and Dallas possibly calling for Oklahoma’s coach, this probably won’t happen. Riley has a perfect set up at Oklahoma so it’s going to take a big offer for him to leave.
If he was interested in the job, NFL traditionalists might have questions about his system translating to the next level, but Kliff Kingsbury, who runs a diet version of what Riley does in Norman, has turned a terrible Cardinals roster into an above-average offense. There should be no concerns that Riley could do the same with a solid Panthers offense.
2. Josh McDaniels, Patriots offensive coordinator
This would be another win for Panthers fans, but I just don’t see McDaniels leaving New England any time soon. The assumption is that he’s the Patriots’ coach-in-waiting. He’s had his chances to leave in recent seasons and passed on them. I don’t think an injured Newton is enough to convince him to leave now.
3. Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs offensive coordinator
Everyone wants a piece of the Andy Reid coaching tree, so expect Bieniemy to be a hot name in the offseason. It’s always hard to properly evaluate coordinators who work under play-calling coaches, though. But if the Panthers do keep Newton around, the offense Bieniemy would be bringing over from Kansas City would be ideal for the Carolina quarterback.
4. Kevin Stefanski, Vikings offensive coordinator
Stefanski has quietly helped build one of the NFL’s most efficient offenses and he’s done so with an above-average quarterback in Kirk Cousins and a receiving corps that hasn’t been healthy for the last month or so. The one concern is we don’t know how much of a hand Gary Kubiak has had in crafting the Vikings’ scheme. But that is something the Panthers should be able to figure out during interviews. If this is Stefanski’s offense we’re watching in Minnesota, he’d be a good hire.
4. Greg Roman, Ravens offensive coordinator
I get why Roman is getting a lot of love this season, but he’s not bringing Lamar Jackson along with him and the offense he’s designed in Baltimore doesn’t really work without the dynamic quarterback. And I don’t know if treating Newton as the focal point of the run game is the best strategy at this point in his career. Sure, Jackson and Newton are both dynamic talents at the quarterback position, but their styles are not all that similar.
6. Robert Saleh, 49ers defensive coordinator
Saleh has done a good job with the 49ers defense and has the kind of exuberance that team owners love. But is anyone sold on him as a head coach? His defenses in San Francisco were among the worst in the league before 2019 when he was given too much talent to fail. He doesn’t get to bring that pass rush, which features FOUR first-round picks, or Kyle Shanahan with him. He might just be another Dan Quinn.
7. Brian Daboll, Bills offensive coordinator
Any coordinator on a winning team is going to get a look from teams looking for coaches, but Daboll emerging as a leading candidate is a little strange. Sure, he’s done a good job of simplifying things for Josh Allen this season, but his track record as a coordinator is spotty at best. His teams have never finished higher than 18th in total offense. I just don’t see it.
[opinary poll=”was-firing-ron-rivera-a-mistake_forthewi” customer=”forthewin”]
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