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.

[lawrence-related id=689644,689634,689598]

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.

[lawrence-related id=689348,689344,689333]

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.

[lawrence-related id=689228,686261,689038]

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).

Panthers reportedly block Jaguars from interviewing Ejiro Evero

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Panthers have blocked the Jaguars’ request to interview DC Ejiro Evero for their HC job.

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper may have just poured cold water on the Jacksonville Jaguars once again.

According to ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, the Panthers have blocked the Jaguars’ request to interview Ejiro Evero for their defensive coordinator job. Fowler also notes that Carolina is expected to interview the 43-year-old play-caller for their head-coaching vacancy.

Evero, a pretty hot commodity during last offseason’s hiring process, has become an even hotter name this year. Despite a myriad of injuries to their starters and a lack of complementary football from the team’s offense, the Panthers finished their 2-15 campaign with the fourth-ranked defense.

Carolina held its opponents to just 293.9 yards per contest. Only the Cleveland Browns (270.2), Kansas City Chiefs (289.8) and New York Jets (292.3) were stingier.

This will be the second straight year in which Evero interviews for the organization’s head-coaching position.

He is now the 11th known candidate in the franchise’s search.

[lawrence-related id=689170,689041,688654]

Eagles’ OC Brian Johnson expected to interview for Panthers head coaching vacancy

The Carolina Panthers are expected to interview Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator 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.

Adam Schefter reports that Philadelphia’s embattled offensive coordinator is expected to interview for the Carolina Panthers’ 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).

15 possible candidates to replace former Panthers GM Scott Fitterer

Who’s next in line to lead the Panthers’ front office? Here are 15 candidates that could replace Scott Fitterer.

The Carolina Panthers didn’t wait long to make a move after wrapping up the worst record in the history of a 17-game season.

On Monday, the team announced they have parted ways with general manager Scott Fitterer. The decision puts an end to a bumpy three-year run, one that resulted in an overall 14-37 record.

So, who’s next for owner David Tepper?

Here are 15 possible candidates for Carolina’s new opening:

Report: Bill Belichick has ‘asked others’ about Panthers, David Tepper

According to The Athletic, Bill Belichick has “asked others” about David Tepper and the Panthers’ situation.

Is the NFL’s emperor lurking?

With the Carolina Panthers on the hunt for their third head coach in as many seasons and Bill Belichick seemingly on the outs in New England, there may be a possibility for an unlikely union in Charlotte. Joe Person of The Athletic wrote the following about owner David Tepper’s search following Sunday’s season finale:

Tepper likes to swing big, so don’t rule out Bill Belichick if he and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft cut ties. I’m told Belichick has asked others about Tepper and the Panthers’ situation. But like Johnson, Belichick figures to have other opportunities.

The Johnson Person is referring to is, of course, Ben—the offensive coordinator for the NFC North champion Detroit Lions. Johnson, by many accounts, is still the perceived apple of Tepper’s eye.

But could the league’s least successful owner, at least to this point, be interested in turning around his franchise’s fate with the league’s most successful coach?

Belichick, per FOX’s Jay Glazer, is nearing an end in New England. The 71-year-old has spent 24 seasons heading the Patriots, a run highlighted by six Super Bowl championships.

He’s not the young coach Tepper is looking to employ for 20 years, nor is he even the offensive-minded one. He is, however, the winningest mind in the history of the game—and that might be worth something.

[lawrence-related id=688875,688847,688841]

Report: Panthers assistant GM Dan Morgan ‘has support’ within organization

Panthers assistant GM Dan Morgan could be a pivotal figure for the organization this offseason.

Can the man who once headed the middle of the Carolina Panthers defense soon head the Carolina Panthers’ front office? Don’t count it out.

Along with news of owner David Tepper working on his head-coaching search with consulting firm Sportsology, Saturday’s report from ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter also included an interesting bit on assistant general manager Dan Morgan.

Schefter writes:

Should he fire Fitterer, Tepper then would have a clean slate to offer a prospective head coach and GM, though Panthers assistant GM Dan Morgan also has support within the organization, according to sources.

Joe Person of The Athletic would later solidify the sentiment, tweeting that Morgan may have a “pivotal role” during the team’s transition.

Carolina first retained the services of Morgan over two decades ago, when they selected him with the 11th overall pick of the 2001 NFL draft. The University of Miami linebacker went on to play sevens seasons for the Panthers, a productive run that yielded a Pro Bowl appearance in 2004.

After retiring from the game in 2010, Morgan began his behind-the-scenes career as a scouting intern with the Seattle Seahawks—alongside then-area scout Scott Fitterer. He rose in the ranks there, earning promotions to the assistant director of pro personnel post in 2011 and the director of pro personnel post in 2015.

Morgan then moved on to “Carolina North,” as he was hired as the director of player personnel for the Buffalo Bills in 2018.

He has served in his current role as Carolina’s assistant general manager since 2021.

[lawrence-related id=665799,688584,687641]

Report: David Tepper working with consulting firm on HC search

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Panthers owner David Tepper has retained the services of a consulting firm to help with his head-coaching search.

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper isn’t afraid to ask for help.

As first noted by ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, Tepper has looked outside of his own organization to usher in a new era of Panthers football. Schefter, in his report from Saturday morning, wrote the following:

To help him guide his franchise for the future, Tepper has been working with the consulting firm Sportsology, led by former Chelsea FC executive Mike Forde.

Tepper retained Forde’s services to help his head-coaching search for Charlotte FC, the Major League Soccer club he also owns. That process landed on former Premier League manager Dean Smith, who was officially hired in December.

Forde’s firm recently worked with a handful of other NFL franchises as well—including the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons.

This approach is a fresh one for Tepper’s Panthers, who did not use a consultancy for their previous hires of Matt Rhule and Frank Reich.

[lawrence-related id=688588,688474,688435]