5 worst moments of the Carolina Panthers’ 2021 season
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers firing Joe Brady
Although firing Joe Brady midway through their bye week wasn’t exactly ideal, it was a fair reflection of the mounting pressure being felt by Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule. The offensive coordinator went from NFL head coaching interviews to the unemployment line in a little under a year and even though he was a sacrificial lamb, the offense was a constant thorn in the team’s side.
This was disappointing in more ways than one. The Panthers were hoping Jeff Nixon would assume play-calling duties and immediately turn things around, but things actually got worse without Brady in the booth.
Coaches like Brady always get another chance. There are some things he should have done differently – even if he was working with one hand tied behind his back with an inconsistent quarterback in Sam Darnold and an offensive line that simply wasn’t up to the required standard.
Rhule is getting a reprieve after avoiding the Black Monday firings. However, if the former Baylor man botches his next offensive coordinator hire, it could cost him his job in the process.
When a coach fires the coordinator, it means the writing is on the wall. Rhule and Brady clearly had different perceptions on how best to run Carolina’s offense, which was the worst possible outcome for the Panthers.