Matt Rhule is set to get a third year as head coach of the Carolina Panthers despite increasing speculation to the contrary, according to an NFL insider.
There is obvious and ever-increasing pressure on head coach Matt Rhule. The Carolina Panthers have gone 2-7 since their impressive three-game winning run to start the campaign, with many fans already coming to the conclusion he isn’t the right man for the job.
This is not what people had in mind just two years after the Panthers gave Rhule a seven-year, $60 million deal to prise him from Baylor and keep the coveted figure from joining the New York Giants. Things haven’t been anywhere near good enough on the field, which has been magnified by the fact Carolina also gives the coach a final say on personnel decisions.
Unless this changes after the bye week, some big changes could be afoot.
Parting ways with Rhule at this stage would be a drastic move for many. But team owner David Tepper won’t hesitate to pull the plug if he feels it will benefit the organization long-term.
Relieving offensive coordinator Joe Brady of his duties during the bye week was perhaps Rhule’s last roll of the dice ahead of a brutal run of games down the stretch. If nothing gets better and the Panthers cannot generate any sort of momentum, one would expect the head coach to be nervously looking over his shoulder when the campaign comes to a conclusion.
However, according to one NFL insider, Rhule’s job is safe.
At least for now.
Carolina Panthers expected to give Matt Rhule third year as head coach.
When discussing the possibility of Rhule’s departure from the Panthers, ESPN’s insider Dan Graziano stated his belief that Tepper will give his coach a third year at the helm from what he has heard. Although this perception could change if things spiral out of control down the stretch.
"“There have been rumblings about Rhule being in trouble, but the most recent information I have tells me owner David Tepper is planning to give him another year to make it work. (Again, five weeks to go still, so things can change). Assuming Rhule is back, he and San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan could be the two names on a lot of people’s “hot seat” lists when next season opens. Shanahan is not in any trouble this offseason, but he is working to avoid his fourth losing season in five years as a head coach.”"
This might not be what everybody wants to hear.
But it’s the most likely scenario at this juncture.
Rhule’s reputation for building programs was one of the primary reasons why he was hired in the first place. Major progression didn’t occur until Year 3 at both Temple and Baylor.
When assessing his performance at the end of the campaign, Rhule will no doubt make this clear to Tepper and general manager Scott Fitterer. Something that might end up giving the coach a reprieve.
If Rhule does stay on in 2022, the leash will be short unless the Panthers miraculously reach the postseason. They don’t have a Day 2 pick during the draft currently and have a little under $30 million in cap space available, so the margin for error is extremely slim with some huge decisions to make regarding out-of-contract players and key positional groups.
Of course, the next five games will dictate which way this goes for Rhule. But admitting defeat with lofty compensation would also bring Tepper’s decision-making process under the microscope.
Something the billionaire could do without.