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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:
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.
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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.
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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.
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According to PFN’s Adam Caplan, Lions OC Ben Johnson will be “the top candidate” for the Panthers in their head-coaching search.
The second time is likely to be a charm for Ben Johnson, who will reenter the head-coaching circuit this offseason. But will it be the Carolina Panthers that he’s ultimately charmed by?
Well, according to Pro Football Network NFL insider Adam Caplan, they will certainly try to bring him home.
Caplan reported this about the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator on Thursday:
Johnson came into the season as the unquestioned top head coaching candidate, and he remains that guy. He’ll be the top candidate on the Carolina Panthers list, sources said, for the second straight year among many teams that will want to talk to him.
The Panthers, among others, targeted the highly-regarded play-caller during last year’s searches. But Johnson, as noted by Caplan, withdrew his name from the pool due to “family considerations.”
Carolina’s interest in Johnson may be the worst-kept secret on the coaching carousel. Owner David Tepper reportedly spent a “good amount of time” with Johnson’s agent at the recent league meetings.
Caplan also added the following about the Charleston, S.C. native:
While he’s pretty young (38 in May), sources who have worked with Johnson over the years say he’s wise beyond his years and is ready to lead a team.
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Panthers great Cam Newton has some thoughts about David Tepper’s drink toss in Jacksonville.
Cam Newton doesn’t seem convinced that Sunday was the first time Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper tossed a drink at someone.
On Wednesday’s episode of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton, the franchise great provided some commentary on the New Year’s Eve incident at EverBank Stadium involving the billionaire chairman.
Tepper, in the waning moments of his team’s 26-0 loss, was captured angrily tossing the contents of a cup towards Jacksonville Jaguars fans.
Here’s what Newton, who was apparently pretty impressed by Tepper’s form, had to say about it:
That perfect form didn’t matter to the NFL—as Tepper was fined $300,000 for his actions. The league provided the following statement on Tuesday:
All NFL personnel are expected to conduct themselves at all times in ways that respect our fans and favorably reflect on their team and the NFL.
Tepper just moments later, released some words of his own:
I am deeply passionate about this team and regret my behavior on Sunday. I should have let NFL stadium security handle any issues that arose. I respect the NFL’s code of conduct and accept the League’s discipline for my behavior.
Well, perhaps the Panthers should have a spot for Newton somewhere up in that box after all . . .
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Panthers LB Shaq Thompson on David Tepper’s drink toss: ‘You can’t do that’
Shaq Thompson has probably seen quite a bit during his nine-year tenure with the Carolina Panthers. But what happened at EverBank Stadium this past Sunday may have been a first for him.
Soon after the team’s 26-0 loss on New Year’s Eve, a video of owner David Tepper tossing his drink towards Jacksonville Jaguars fans had emerged. On Wednesday, the elder statesman of the team was asked about his thoughts on the incident.
“You can’t do that,” Thompson said, per ESPN’s David Newton. “I don’t advise nobody to throw a drink on nobody. That’s just what it is. But I’ll let him address that.”
Tepper, after two days, finally addressed it in a statement on Tuesday evening:
I am deeply passionate about this team and regret my behavior on Sunday. I should have let NFL stadium security handle any issues that arose. I respect the NFL’s code of conduct and accept the League’s discipline for my behavior.
The league fined Tepper $300,000 for what they classified as “unacceptable conduct.”
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Panthers interim HC Chris Tabor was asked about owner David Tepper’s drink-tossing incident for the first time on Wednesday.
As expected, Carolina Panthers interim head coach Chris Tabor just wanted to stick to football on Wednesday.
Tabor spoke with reporters for the first time since the video of owner David Tepper’s drink-tossing incident emerged. Upon opening up his post-practice press conference this afternoon, he was asked if he had any impressions of the clip.
“I don’t have any impressions,” Tabor replied.
Tepper, towards the end of Sunday’s 26-0 loss, was captured angrily emptying the contents of a cup in the direction of Jacksonville Jaguars fans. The NFL has since fined him $300,000 for what they deemed as “unacceptable conduct.”
Tabor was then asked what he would have done if a player had acted similarly.
“I stick with the team,” he replied. “What I will say is this—I’m responsible for the guys in the locker room at this time and that’s what I’m doin’. I’m gonna stick to that and I’ll answer any questions on Tampa if you’d like.”
Well, it’s on to Tampa Bay—at least for Tabor.
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A slap on the wrist from the NFL and a sorrowless statement from Panthers owner David Tepper isn’t going over all that well.
On Tuesday, the NFL officially handed down a $300,000 fine to Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, who appeared to have tossed the contents of a cup towards Jacksonville Jaguars fans this past weekend. And Tepper, shortly thereafter, issued a statement regarding his “unacceptable conduct.”
Well, based on the early reactions over on Twitter, the statement lacked an apology and the fine lacked a number or two.
Here’s how folks are reacting to today’s news:
Panthers owner David Tepper was zapped with a 300K fine by the NFL
That was one expensive drink Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper threw at a fan Sunday in Jacksonville.
The NFL fined the owner of the team with the worst record in the league $300,000 for throwing the drink,
The National Football League today fined Carolina Panthers’ chairman David Tepper $300,000 for his unacceptable conduct in Jacksonville during Sunday’s game, the league announced.
“All NFL personnel are expected to conduct themselves at all times in ways that respect our fans… pic.twitter.com/qmjcas7Hus
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 2, 2024
Tepper offered a statement for his behavior.
“I am deeply passionate about this team and regret my behavior on Sunday,” Tepper’s statement read. “I should have let NFL stadium security handle any issues that arose. I respect the NFL’s code of conduct and accept the League’s discipline for my behavior.”
In addition to being shut out by the Jaguars, Week 17 was the game that saw the Panthers clinch what turned out to be the first pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
The pick they traded to the Chicago Bears last year for their first pick in the 2023 draft, which Carolina turned into Alabama QB Bryce Young.
