Tag: Mike Phair

Panthers announce 2 additions, 1 subtraction from Matt Rhule’s staff

The Carolina Panthers have announced some changes to head coach Matt Rhule’s staff.

The Carolina Panthers have announced some changes to head coach Matt Rhule’s staff. Last week, it was reported the team was hiring Sean Ryan to be their quarterbacks coach and Tony Sparano Jr. to be their assistant offensive line coach. Carolina made that news official in today’s release.

Ryan’s arrival has raised speculation that the team will attempt to trade for either Deshaun Watson or Matt Stafford, who he worked with in his previous stops in Houston and Detroit. Ryan replaces Jake Peetz, who has been hired to be the offensive coordinator at LSU.

Sparano has been coaching in the NFL since 2011 when he was a part of his father’s staff in Miami. He held the same position for the Jaguars the last four seasons and is taking the place of Marcus Satterfield, who’s been hired by South Carolina to be their OC.

In addition, the Panthers announced defensive line coach Mike Phair will not return in 2021. A replacement has not been named or reported at this time. The team’s statement says assistant defensive line coach Frank Okam will be working with the defensive line prospects at the Senior Bowl this week.

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Report: Panthers hiring Colts defensive line coach Mike Phair

Report: Panthers hiring Colts defensive line coach Mike Phair for same role.

According to a report by Stephen Holder at the Athletic, the Panthers are hiring Colts defensive line coach Mike Phair to fill the same position on Matt Rule’s staff.

Phair has a big pair of shoes to fill. Former Carolina defensive line coach Eric Washington is widely regarded as one of the best in the NFL. He was just hired by the Bills to lead their unit.

Phair apparently has a strong relationship with Phil Snow, who is expected to be the team’s new defensive coordinator.

Relationships will only get you so far in football, though. Phair will be judged based on what he gets out of a defensive line entering a transitional phase. The unit has good core players like Mario Addison and Gerald McCoy, but most of them are in the wrong side of 30 years old. Phair may have to oversee a rebuilding project centered around guys like 2019 first-round pick Brian Burns.

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