The Carolina Panthers were one of the first NFL teams to hire their head coach during the 2023 season. Amid an extensive Panthers coaching search, it appears one of the fastest-rising NFL coaching candidates is emerging as the front-runner.
Panthers owner David Tepper is conducting a coaching search for the second consecutive offseason. Following the disastrous results with head coach Frank Reich, Carolina opted to hire a coaching firm to lead the process this winter.
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Tepper kicked things off by replacing general manager Scott Fitterer with an internal hire, promoting assistant general manager Dan Morgan. The former Panthers’ linebacker has been part of head-coaching interviews and it appears one of his personal connections is favored to become Carolina’s next head coach.
According to Joe Person of The Athletic, there is “momentum building” in the Panthers coaching search for Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales. Not only is he one of the most popular coaching candidates in this cycle, but he has a working relationship with Morgan.
| QB Rating | Completion Rate | YPA | PFF grade | TD-INT | |
| Geno Smith (2022) | 100.9 | 69.8% | 7.5 | 79.8 | 30-11 |
| Baker Mayfield (2023) | 94.6 | 64.3% | 7.1 | 74.6 | 28-10 |
Introducing Carolina Panthers head coach candidate Dave Canales
Canales and Morgan worked together with the Seattle Seahawks. The 42-year-old started his coaching career as an assistant strength coach at USC in 2009. A year later he joined Pete Carroll as the Seahawks’ wide receivers coach (2010-’17) and later the team’s quarterbacks coach (2018-’19, 2022) and passing game coordinator (2020-’21). Morgan, the Panthers’ former linebacker, worked for the Seahawks from 2010-’17, working his way up from scouting intern to director of player personnel.
In Seattle, Canales was credited heavily with helping quarterback Geno Smith emerge as the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2022. After posting a 75.7 QB rating, 58.8% completion rate and averaging 6.9 yards per attempt in his first eight NFL seasons, Smith was one of the best starting quarterbacks in the NFL with Canales.
Canales’ work in Seattle led to him becoming the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator in 2023. He worked wonders with Baker Mayfield, helping the veteran quarterback enjoy a career turnaround (81.3 QB rating, 27-21 TD-INT ratio from 2021-’22).
