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There are 12 known candidates for the Panthers’ HC vacancy. What’s the greatest strength that each can offer to the organization? Let’s make some pitches.
There’s quite a lot to keep track of right now if you’re involved with the Carolina Panthers, who are currently in the middle of their second head-coaching hunt in as many offseasons. So, we’ll try to simplify the search.
Let’s make a pitch for each of the 12 candidates, highlighting the greatest strength they can bring to the struggling franchise.
The Panthers announced they have completed their virtual interview with Rams DC Raheem Morris.
Head-coaching interview No. 6 is now wrapped up.
The Carolina Panthers announced on Wednesday that they have completed their virtual interview with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. The 47-year-old is now the sixth candidate to chat with the organization about the head coach job—joining Chris Tabor, Ejiro Evero, Todd Monken, Mike Macdonald and Frank Smith.
Morris, save for a year as the defensive coordinator at Kansas State University, has been on the NFL sidelines for the past two decades. He got his start in 2002 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—where he rose up the ranks from a defensive quality control coach all the way to their head coach in 2009.
Tampa Bay went 17-31 under Morris over three seasons. His best campaign came in 2010, where he led the Bucs to a 10-6 mark.
Morris, who was fired following the 2012 season, landed in Washington as a defensive backs coach for three years. He’d move on to Atlanta, where he’d get an 11-game interim head-coaching run to close out 2020.
He has spent the last three seasons heading the Rams defense.
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Who’s the current favorite to be named the next HC of the Panthers? Here is one oddsmaker’s opinion:
So, who’s currently the favorite to become the newest head coach of the Carolina Panthers?
Bookies.com oddsmaker Adam Thompson has released a fresh set of odds for the job on Wednesday. Atop the list is Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith, who leads the pack with an 18.2-percent chance.
Here’s the full rundown from Thompson:
Smith, per an official release from last night, has completed his virtual interview with the Panthers. He is now one of five candidates to do so—joining 2023’s interim head coach and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, Evero, Monken and Macdonald.
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We’re looking at a list of head coaching candidates the Philadelphia Eagles could target if Nick Sirianni is fired
Nick Sirianni has a 34-17 regular season record.
He has led the Eagles to the playoffs in his three seasons as their head coach, reaching the Super Bowl in 2022.
Still, people only remember your last performance.
Philadelphia owners Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman have begun the painstaking chore of evaluating the coaching staff and determining if Sirianni will return in 2024 after an ugly 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers in the wild-card round.
It’s the second time in three years that a Todd Bowles defense has dominated Jalen Hurts, and the inability to adjust almost two years to the day of the first disappointment could be the final nail.
The one negative in Sirianni’s dilemma is that this coaching cycle is loaded with young and experienced offensive coaches who thrive in using motion, scheming players open, and, most importantly, adjusting to a blitzing defense.
With exit meetings set to begin Thursday and lots of changes expected, we’re ranking the head coaching candidates the Eagles could target if Sirianni departs or is fired.
The Panthers announced they have completed a virtual interview with Dolphins OC Frank Smith.
The Carolina Panthers have checked off another chat in their head-coaching search.
As announced on Tuesday, the team has completed their interview with Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith. The 42-year-old is now the fifth candidate to complete his virtual interview with the organization—joining 2023’s interim head coach and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
Smith started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Miami University (Ohio) in 2004. He then moved on to Butler University, where he began as the offensive line coach in 2006 and moved up to offensive coordinator between 2007 and 2008.
His jump to the NFL sidelines came in 2010, as an assistant offensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints. After five years in the NFC South, he became a tight ends coach—for the Chicago Bears between 2015 and 2017 and for the Las Vegas Raiders between 2018 and 2020.
The Milwaukee, Wis. native then went Hollywood in 2021, joining the Los Angeles Rams as their run game coordinator and offensive line coach.
Smith has since been conducting one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses in Miami over the past two seasons.
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Could Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers be an X-factor versus the Texans in the AFC Divisional?
The Baltimore Ravens rank No. 1 in rush yards per carry, and when opponents crowd the box, wide receiver Zay Flowers is often left guarded 1-on-1 on the outside. Could he be the X-Factor in the AFC Divisional?
After tallying a record-breaking 858 total receiving yards this season, Flowers needs to transfer that season play-over into the playoffs. Surely, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans is thinking of ways to stop Flowers, but that’s easier said than done.
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Flowers recorded 77 receptions this season, averaging 11.1 yards per catch. Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken has done a terrific job getting Flowers into space on screens, quick slants, comeback routes, wheel routes, and more.
Flowers runs a 40-yard dash speed of 4.42 and has yielded 387 yards after catch this season to lead the team. His electrifying speed was displayed when he ignited M&T Bank Stadium the last time he took the field in week 17 with a 75-yard touchdown catch.
Give Zay his Flowers 💐 75-YARD TOUCHDOWN
📺: #MIAvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/sFjqko01pD pic.twitter.com/lfN2yQKm8i— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2023
Monken should use Flowers over the top this week, as Ryans may be looking to crowd the line of scrimmage and neutralize the Ravens’ running game.
Monken should be looking to use every misdirection play he has in the playbook to get the Texans’ defense out of position to open up lanes for his skill players. The speed of Flowers can be the x-factor on offense, compromising any attempt for the Texans to press at the line of scrimmage.
HARBS GOING CRAZY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zfHyT8p4lP
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 31, 2023
The Baltimore Ravens have been a hot source for teams looking to find their next head coach following the end of the season, with both offensive coordinator Todd Monken and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald being names of interest. Both coaches …
The Baltimore Ravens have been a hot source for teams looking to find their next head coach following the end of the season, with both offensive coordinator Todd Monken and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald being names of interest.
Both coaches addressed the head coach buzz when speaking to the media on Thursday.
“The bottom line is we have a chance to do something special here,” Monken said. “The focus is on our team.”
Ravens OC Todd Monken on drawing interest for head coach openings: pic.twitter.com/hjiLnrly6h
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 11, 2024
Monken’s offense exploded down the final stretch of the season and finished the year ranked No. 4 in both total points and points per game.
Macdonald’s name has been thrown around more than any other member of the Ravens when discussing potential head coaches around the league, and for good reason, as the 36-year-old defensive mastermind has orchestrated elite units in both of his first two seasons as an NFL defensive coordinator after doing the same for the Michigan Wolverines at the collegiate level the year prior.
“This is the first time I’m going through it,” Macdonald said. “You just have to deal with how it’s structured.”
Ravens DC Mike Macdonald said the key to balancing his job and the interest for head coach openings is compartmentalization.
Macdonald said he has spoken to teams about their vacancies remotely when at home. pic.twitter.com/cq7hYNxwnH
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 11, 2024
The important thing is that both coaches seem to be focused on the task at hand first and foremost. With so much uncertainty after this season, the time to win a Super Bowl is now for the Ravens, and they will need both coordinators to be at the top of their game to do so.
The Panthers announced they have completed virtual interviews with three HC candidates.
The Carolina Panthers have been busy on Zoom over the past few days.
On Thursday night, the team announced they have completed three more virtual interviews with a trio of head-coaching candidates—defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
Evero is now the second internal candidate to interview, with special teams coordinator and 2023’s interim head coach Chris Tabor having got his shot on Wednesday. The highly-acclaimed 43-year-old play-caller has also reportedly received interest from the Atlanta Falcons—who, according to Joe Person of The Athletic, requested permission to speak with Evero for their own head-coaching vacancy.
Monken and Macdonald, the coordinators for the AFC’s No. 1-seeded Ravens, have a bit of extra time on their hands this weekend during the team’s postseason bye. Both were announced as candidates by the Panthers this past Monday—a list that included nine men in total.
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Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken receives a pair of head coaching interviews
The Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers have both requested interviews, as they look to fill their vacant head coach role, with Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Monken has been outstanding in his first season with the Ravens. Baltimore went an NFL-best 13-4 during the regular season.
Todd Monken helped Georgia win back-to-back national championships during his final two seasons in Athens.
Monken had previously served as an NFL offensive coordinator and decided to pursue a job at the next level again to coach star Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson.
The Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers are both rebuilding. However, Los Angeles has a much more attractive job because the Chargers have star quarterback Justin Herbert and a lot more resources than the Panthers, who finished 2023 with the worst record in the NFL.
Baltimore does not want to lose Monken after one season. The Ravens could make a deep playoff run to disrupt Monken’s ability to take a head coaching role.
Monken is not the only NFL coach with Georgia ties that is receiving interview requests. Former Georgia running back and Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown has received a request to interview with the Tennessee Titans for their head coaching vacancy.
Source: #Ravens OC Todd Monken is now on the board, getting requests from the #Chargers and #Panthers.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 8, 2024
Todd Monken and Baltimore secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Ravens will host the lowest-ranked remaining team in the AFC after wild-card weekend.
Panthers request interviews with multiple members of the Ravens for open HC and GM positions
With the 2023 regular season now behind us, teams throughout the league are searching for the right people to fill any vacant roles on their staff.
After finishing with the best record in the league, it is no surprise that teams are looking towards the Baltimore Ravens for solutions. The Carolina Panthers, in particular, need change following the firing of multiple coaches and their general manager after finishing with the worst record in the NFL.
According to the official team website, the Panthers have requested interviews with three members of the Ravens: offensive coordinator Todd Monken and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald for their vacant head coach position, and vice president of football administration Nick Matteo for their general manager opening.
Macdonald’s name has skyrocketed to the top of aspiring young coaches in the NFL after fielding elite defenses in his first two seasons as defensive coordinator for Baltimore. Macdonald’s unit became the first defense in NFL history to finish a season ranked No. 1 in sacks, points per game, and takeaways.
The Ravens’ offense started to show their true potential at the end of Monken’s first season as offensive coordinator, as Baltimore scored 56 points against the Miami Dolphins and 33 points against the San Francisco 49ers. The Ravens’ offense finished the season ranked No. 4 in both total points and points per game. Quarterback Lamar Jackson experienced career-highs in passing yards and completion percentage in Monken’s offense and is likely to win MVP.
Matteo has been with Baltimore since 2019 and according to the official team website “has negotiated the contracts of all 37 draft picks during that time, plus several free agents, and has worked on the extensions for several key Ravens.”
