4 dream replacements if Joe Brady gets a head coaching job in 2021
By Dean Jones
Who could replace head coach candidate Joe Brady as Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator?
There appears to be a strong likelihood that the Carolina Panthers might be without the services of offensive coordinator Joe Brady in 2021. One of the NFL’s most progressive young minds is attracting plenty of speculation regarding a possible head coaching job after just one season at the next level, which is a testament to how well he’s progressing his career.
This would be a crushing blow to the Carolina Panthers, who pulled off a real coup by getting Brady to the organization after he masterminded LSU’s historic passing attack to a National Championship in 2019. His exploits this season won’t have gone unnoticed by teams looking to make a head coaching change following the season and Matt Rhule needs to put a contingency plan in place at the earliest possible opportunity.
In the meantime, Carolina must focus on turning around their recent fortunes. They are in the midst of a five-game losing run and anything other than a .500 record down the stretch has the potential to lengthen their rebuilding process.
Not having Brady would bring around further complications given how well the offense has performed for large parts of the season and his relationship with Teddy Bridgewater. Here are four dream candidates the Panthers should consider if their offensive coordinator gets a head coaching offer elsewhere.
Replacement No. 1
Mike LaFleur
The brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has been around the league a long time and is currently passing game coordinator at the San Francisco 49ers. He is highly respected across the league and does appear ready for a step-up to a coordinator position should the right opportunity present itself.
He is fiercely loyal to Niners’ head coach Kyle Shanahan, with the pair working closely together with the Atlanta Falcons before making the move to San Francisco. You don’t spend that long with someone and not discover what it takes when it’s time to go alone and this is a name that definitely warrants consideration for the Panthers if Brady secures a head coaching role after just one season in the NFL.