Why Joe Brady is the NFL’s most underrated hire in 2020

Could the Carolina Panthers have pulled off a masterstroke with the appointment of Joe Brady?

It has been an offseason of complete change for the Carolina Panthers. They made wholesale changes to their roster and brought in an entirely new coaching staff with a view to possibly pushing for the postseason in the not-too-distant future.

One particular move made by the Carolina Panthers that might have gone under the radar somewhat was the appointment of Joe Brady as offensive coordinator. The talented young coach comes into the NFL riding on the crest of a wave. And his arrival could transform the fortunes of the offense instantly.

Brady masterminded the LSU passing attack in 2019 on their way to one of the most dominant offensive performances in college football history. He transformed quarterback Joe Burrow from a mid-round prospect to the consensus No. 1 overall pick and a Heisman Trophy winner.

The Panthers will be hoping Brady can do the same with Teddy Bridgewater. The pair have worked together before with the New Orleans Saints. And this familiarity will stand the pair in good stead when one considers the lack of preparation time before the season.

NFL.com writer Adam Rank was also glowing of Brady in a recent article that focused on the state of the franchise. He stated the coordinator was the most important hire outside of head coach Matt Rhule. But stressing the need for protection from the Panthers’ offensive line.

"“This was the most important hire outside of Rhule. Brady takes over one year removed from being the architect of one of the greatest offensive seasons in college history. At LSU, Brady brilliantly ran a sophisticated offense brimming with NFL talent. He is also the elder statesman of (recent) NFL experience between him, Rhule and Snow — despite being just 30 years old. Brady spent two seasons as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints (2017-18) before taking over the Tigers’ offense. But the important takeaway is that time in New Orleans, where he worked with Bridgewater. That is going to help Bridgewater immediately. He’s familiar with the schemes and verbiage, so even with a truncated offseason, Teddy is going to be ready to roll on Day 1. Just protect him.”"

Why Joe Brady is an overlooked hire by the Carolina Panthers

It is easy to overlook Brady’s arrival with the Carolina Panthers when one looks at the number of other changes made. Releasing quarterback Cam Newton continues to generate the majority of the headlines. And the defense has undergone a considerable makeover thanks to their historic NFL Draft picks.

This should not detract from what an inspired choice Brady was to galvanize the offense. He is a progressive young mind and has the sort of playbook that is sure to get the most out of Carolina’s talented weapons.

Having All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey will undoubtedly aid his transition to the pros. And the likes of D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel, Robby Anderson, and Ian Thomas could all reap the rewards of this hire in 2020 and beyond.

Brady is on the first stepping stone to possibly become a head coach in the future. This is dependant on how well he does in a professional environment. Interviews could start as early as next year if things go well. And the Pnathers might be faced with a real fight on their hands to keep him around.

There is little doubt that Brady is destined for great things. He has already achieved a considerable amount in his short career to date. And this all bodes well for the Panthers during a period of transition.