Tag: David Tepper

Panthers reportedly giving new HC Dave Canales a 6-year deal

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Panthers have given new HC Dave Canales a six-year contract.

Upon firing his last head coach in late November, Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper said he’d like the next guy to last 20 to 30 years on the job. Well, how about we start off with just a handful for now?

According to ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Panthers are giving new head coach Dave Canales a six-year contract. The organization officially announced the hiring of the 42-year-old on Thursday night.

While rare, a deal of that length for a first-time head coach isn’t a first-time occurrence. In fact, it’s worked out rather well for the teams who have recently done the same. (Just ask the Houston Texans and DeMeco Ryans, the Detroit Lions and Dan Campbell and the San Francisco 49ers and Kyle Shanahan.)

Panthers owner David Tepper is hoping the third head-coaching hunt is a charm, as his previous two picks for the post did not pan out. Tepper dismissed Matt Rhule after 38 games from 2020 to 2022 and Frank Reich after just 11 this past season.

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Dave Canales expected to call plays, will report directly to David Tepper

New Panthers HC Dave Canales is expected to call the plays on offense and will, along with GM Dan Morgan, report directly to owner David Tepper.

On Thursday night, the Carolina Panthers officially announced the hiring of new head coach Dave Canales. And, in typical Carolina Panthers fashion, that official announcement wouldn’t go without a few intriguing nuggets.

The first of which may be a tell on the direction of the offense, as the official release from the team noted that Canales is expected to call plays. This, of course, shouldn’t be much of a surprise—especially considering the crux of the organization’s head-coaching hunt.

As was the case during last year’s search, which ultimately ended up on Frank Reich, the Panthers were believed to be focusing in on an offensive-minded candidate. A rough rookie campaign from No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, who averaged just 179.8 passing yards per game with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, probably only heightened that desire.

So, Carolina nabbed one of the game’s fastest rising play-callers in Canales. The 42-year-old’s work as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator in 2023, particularly with quarterback Baker Mayfield, helped put him on the radar.

The second key takeaway is that Canales, as well as new president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan, will report directly to owner David Tepper.

That practice is not uncommon in the NFL, as numerous teams currently follow the same approach. But given the public perception of Tepper’s control over the on-field product, the optics on that little tidbit aren’t exactly encouraging.

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David Tepper, Dan Morgan comment on Panthers’ hiring of HC Dave Canales

Panthers owner David Tepper and GM Dan Morgan commented on Thursday’s hiring of HC Dave Canales.

The Carolina Panthers made a big decision on Thursday. So, appropriately enough, two of their biggest decision-makers had a little something to say.

As officially announced this evening, the team has reached an agreement with Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales to become the seventh full-time head coach in franchise history. Along with the announcement came some words from owner David Tepper, who has just hired his third head coach in the last five years.

“Dave’s background is rooted in success,” Tepper said.” He has an innovative mindset and positive energy that connects well with players and staff. We are impressed with his ability to bring out the best in players.”

Tepper’s first two hires, obviously, did not pan out—as Matt Rhule went 11-27 from 2020 to 2022 with Frank Reich following up at 1-10 in 2023.

Dan Morgan, who was just minted the new president of football operations and general manager, also had a few comments in the release.

“I’m excited to work alongside Dave again,” Morgan stated. “His background coaching multiple position groups has given him a great understanding of what it takes to build a successful team. His infectious personality resonates with players and everyone who comes in contact with him. I’m confident that will translate to the field.”

Dan worked alongside Dave beginning in 2010, when they were both hired by the Seattle Seahawks. The two spent eight seasons in the same building, with Morgan working on the personnel side and Canales as the team’s wide receivers coach.

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Biggest takeaways from the Panthers’ promotion of new GM Dan Morgan

What does Monday’s promotion of new GM Dan Morgan tell us about the Panthers’ intentions moving forward?

On Monday, the Carolina Panthers did the expected by knocking off the “assistant” label from assistant general manager Dan Morgan’s title. So, what could their decision tell us about their present and immediate future?

Here are three takeaways from the latest development at 800 South Mint Street:

Report reveals braintrust behind Panthers’ GM search

Per CBS Sports, the Panthers’ GM search included owners David and Nicole Tepper, team president Kristi Coleman and senior assistant coach Jim Caldwell.

So, who was in on the Carolina Panthers’ decision to stay local?

On Monday, the organization announced the promotion of now-former assistant general manager Dan Morgan to the president of football operations and general manager posts. And according to CBS Sports lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones, here’s who was included in the braintrust that ultimately landed on the former linebacker:

According to sources, Tepper captained the search for his next GM along with his wife, Nicole, team president Kristi Coleman, Panthers senior assistant coach and longtime NFL head coach Jim Caldwell and Mike Forde, who heads the search firm Sportsology.

ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on Jan. 6 that the Panthers were entering their hunt with Forde and Sportsology. The firm also has past experience with the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers as well as with Tepper’s head-coaching search for Charlotte FC from last month.

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Report: Panthers may not be done adding to front office after Dan Morgan promotion

Monday’s promotion of new GM Dan Morgan may not be the only adjustment the Panthers make atop their front office.

Just because they’ve locked in on their new general manager, it doesn’t mean the Carolina Panthers are done making big moves behind the scenes.

On Monday, the team announced the promotion of Dan Morgan to the president of football operations and general manager positions. The former Panthers linebacker, who is now also the former Panthers assistant general manager, now takes the reins atop the front office after three years as the No. 2.

But according to CBS lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones, owner David Tepper may be looking to partner Morgan up with a numbers guy. Jones writes:

It’s possible Tepper isn’t done adding to his front office, sources say. Tepper had a healthy mix of GM candidates in this search with football backgrounds or cap/analytics backgrounds. Back in 2021 before hiring Fitterer, Tepper flirted with the idea of splitting the GM position in two: A CFO of football and a COO of football, according to sources.

With Morgan taking the controls as the primary football executive, his secondary football executive position is now vacant in Carolina.

Some, including Joe Person of The Athletic and Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, have suggested it may be Kansas City Chiefs vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis that is ultimately hired to run the business side.

Tilis was one of eight general manager candidates the Panthers officially announced an interview request for back on Jan. 8. He reportedly interviewed with the organization on Jan. 15.

Jones also noted that Philadelphia Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby and New York Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown were finalists for the job.

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David Tepper issues statement on promotion of new GM Dan Morgan

Panthers owner David Tepper issued a statement on the team’s promotion of new president of football operations/GM Dan Morgan.

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper had his man in the building the entire time.

The organization announced this evening that Dan Morgan has been promoted to the team’s president of football operations and general manager positions. Tepper provided the following statement on the decision in the team’s official release:

“Dan has a thorough knowledge of our football personnel and a clear vision to take us where we all want to go. We know he will attack this opportunity with the same intensity he did as a Panthers player.”

As a Panthers player, Morgan was as fierce as they came. The former middle linebacker played each of his seven NFL seasons in Carolina—amassing 390 combined tackles, 7.0 sacks, five interceptions, three forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.

As a behind-the-scenes guy, Morgan has been as respected as they come. He served in numerous roles for the Seattle Seahawks between 2010 and 2017, achieving the rise from scouting intern to director or pro personnel, and then as the director of player personnel for the Buffalo Bills from 2018 to 2020.

The 45-year-old had been the Panthers’ assistant general manager for the past three seasons.

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Report: David Tepper could model new GM, HC hires after Eagles

A new report from PFN’s Adam Caplan suggests Panthers owner David Tepper is “enamored” with how the Eagles operate.

Could Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper be looking to model his newest regime after the defending NFC champions?

A report from Pro Football Network insider Adam Caplan suggests that when the Panthers settle into their new hires at head coach and general manager, they could be looking quite a bit like the Philadelphia Eagles.

Caplan writes: “Panthers chairman David Tepper is said to be ‘very impressed’ and ‘enamored’ with the way the Eagles run their football operations and has an awareness of the way things are done there, a league source said.”

Well, this isn’t exactly the best time to be “enamored” with how the Eagles run their ship, one that just sank following an embarrassing 32-9 wild-card round loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That ship, additionally, sailed into Monday night with quite a few holes, as Philadelphia closed out the regular season losing five of their final six games.

Nonetheless, the potential seeds have been planted by the Panthers.

The team has reportedly completed an interview with Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby. It also is expected to speak with Philadelphia offensive coordinator Brian Johnson about its head coaching vacancy.

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Panthers described as ‘least likely fit’ for former Patriots HC Bill Belichick

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler thinks the Panthers may be the least likely fit for former Patriots HC Bill Belichick.

So, now that the New England Patriots are officially moving on without Bill Belichick, where could the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach go next? Well, according to one league insider, don’t expect it to be Charlotte, N.C.

Following Thursday’s mutual parting of ways, ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler tried to play matchmaker between Belichick and the seven current head-coaching vacancies. When it comes to the Carolina Panthers, Fowler probably thinks Bill should swipe left.

He writes of Carolina:

Might be the least likely fit, as owner David Tepper and Belichick do not seem like a match. Carolina seems intrigued by the idea of a young offensive head coach and general manager with an analytical or salary cap background. Plus, the Panthers’ roster is at least a year away.

This past Sunday, Joe Person of The Athletic reported that Belichick has actually “asked others” about Tepper and the Panthers. But, as Fowler suggests, the 71-year-old may prefer to find himself in a win-now situation.

And after finishing at 2-15, the Panthers are a long ways away from winning now.

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Titans request to interview Eagles’ OC Brian Johnson for head coaching position

The Tennessee Titans have requested to interview Philadelphia Eagles OC Brian Johnson for their vacant head coaching position

The Eagles have struggled offensively this season after being among the NFL’s best last season, but that hasn’t stopped Brian Johnson‘s rise in the league’s coaching ranks.

Jordan Schultz reports that Philadelphia’s embattled offensive coordinator has been requested to interview for the Tennessee Titans’ vacant head coaching job.

Johnson is in his third season with the Eagles and was promoted to offensive coordinator following the 2022 campaign when Philadelphia finished 14-3 en route to a Super Bowl LVII appearance.

Before being named offensive coordinator, Johnson was the Eagles quarterbacks coach from 2021-22, playing a crucial role in the development of Jalen Hurts, who posted the second-highest winning percentage (.733, 22-8) among NFL quarterbacks in that span, trailing only Patrick Mahomes (.765, 26-8).