For many reasons, the Carolina Panthers were the least attractive head coaching vacancy in the entire league.
Besides having a serious lack-of-talent problem, they are nearing a crisis with their quarterback situation.
It was just a year ago that they moved heaven and earth to trade up to the top of the draft to snag Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
Now, don’t get me wrong – I don’t mean to sound dramatic. After all, Young may turn out to be the best quarterback of all-time … However, there’s no denying his first season was an absolute nightmare.
You have to imagine that fixing Young was one of the main reasons, if not THE main reason, why owner David Tepper decided to hire Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales as the new head coach.
Panthers expected to hire Bucs OC Dave Canales as new head coach. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/ADnQsGckPC
— NFL (@NFL) January 25, 2024
The 42-year-old Canales is considered a “quarterback-whisperer” and has been credited with developing some solid QB’s through the years.
He previous quarterbacks include Russell Wilson, Geno Smith, and Baker Mayfield.
Tepper and the Panthers are hoping he can bring out the best in Young as well.
Dave Canales is a SPECTACULAR hire by the @Panthers specifically for Bryce Young. Canales helped relaunch the careers of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield in back to back years by building the offense around their strengths in his west coast scheme. Excited to see him work with Bryce pic.twitter.com/39pgtu21pb
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 25, 2024
Canales underwent his second interview with the Panthers on Wednesday in Charlotte.
He apparently impressed Tepper and new general manager Dan Morgan enough for them to cancel their scheduled interview with Mike Vrabel.
Morgan’s familiarity with Canales, cultivated during their eight years together with the Seattle Seahawks from 2010-2017, played a pivotal role in the decision-making process.
Canales, a disciple of former Seattle head coach Pete Carroll, started his journey with Carroll as USC’s strength and conditioning coach in 2009, eventually following him to Seattle.
This is what Mike Evans said a couple of weeks ago about Dave Canales becoming a potential head coach. It's a glowing review from a future, yeah I said it, Hall of Fame Wide Receiver. pic.twitter.com/LpXcxEpZXx
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) January 25, 2024
Canales held the role of passing game coordinator for the Seahawks in 2020, contributing to Russell Wilson’s career-high 4,212 yards passing, 40 touchdowns, and a 68.8 completion percentage.
In 2022, he served as the quarterbacks coach for Seattle, guiding Geno Smith to a career-high 4,282 yards passing and 30 touchdowns with a 69.8 completion percentage.
The most recent stint for Canales was as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the past season, where Baker Mayfield achieved a career-high 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, and a 64.3 completion percentage.
BREAKING NEWS: The Carolina Panthers are hiring Dave Canales as their new Head Coach#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/nb926VLRAK
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 25, 2024
Canales now faces the challenge of revitalizing Young, who had a tumultuous rookie season to say the least.
Young posted one of the worst statistical performances in NFL history for a top pick … Although in fairness, he was set up to fail in many ways.
Dave Canales: the QB whisperer pic.twitter.com/8pjMQkb8kV
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) January 25, 2024
The Panthers went into the coaching search with one hand tied behind their back due to the fact that many coaches aren’t too excited about the idea of working for an impatient hot-head owner such as Tepper (especially veteran coaches who have been around the block).
However, being a head coach in the NFL is one of the rarest and most sought-after jobs in the world.
For a youngster like Canales, who has been starving for his chance, the pairing makes sense.
Regardless of how you feel about Dave Canales being the new #Panthers Head Coach…here’s some FACTS…
We just stole a Division Rival’s & Baker Mayfield’s OC 😏 and he’ll probably bring other staffers along with him.
A treasure trove of #Buccaneers fans are panicked over this ‼️ pic.twitter.com/OrY02To7Xb
— Keep Purring Podcast (Ben) (@KeepPurringBen) January 25, 2024
Predictably, the football world had plentyyyyy to say about the hire on social media…
“Dudes gonna be fired by week 9 and make $15,000/day for the next 5 years.”
Dudes gonna be fired by week 9 and make $15,000/day for the next 5 years
— Kris Luckenbach (@KrisLuckPhoto) January 25, 2024
“I am rooting for this guy, really am but I can’t help that I feel wary to trust Tepper’s process. I believe and believed and was let down time after time….”
I am rooting for this guy, really am but I cant help that I feel wary to trust Teppers process. I believe and believed and was let down time after time….
— Puma (@Puma1014) January 25, 2024
“At least you didn’t ruin Ben Johnsons life by hiring him. Congrats though.”
At least you didn't ruin Ben Johnsons life by hiring him. Congrats though.
— jacobriley_filmmaker (@JRileyFilmmaker) January 26, 2024
“That’s the reason Carolina was never in the BB, Harbaugh or even Vrabel sweepstakes. Tepper couldn’t boss those guys around or tell them what plays to run or work on. He wanted someone he could control and not someone who was gonna tell him to F all the way off.”
That’s the reason Carolina was never in the BB, Harbaugh or even Vrabel sweepstakes. Tepper couldn’t boss those guys around or tell them what plays to run or work on. He wanted someone he could control and not someone who was gonna tell him to F all the way off.
— JRedz (@JRojasIII) January 26, 2024
“Dave Cannoli over Bill Belichick?!?”
Dave Cannoli over Bill Belichick?!?
— Chase Wilson (@offworldnexus) January 26, 2024
What are your thoughts on the hire?
Was Canales truly the best the Panthers could do?
Assuming they were never a true contender for Belichick or Carroll, should they have hired Vrabel instead?
Will Canales be a success? … Or will he be gone before the end of the 2024 season???
— Chris Honeycutt (@ChrisHoneycutt) January 25, 2024