What are the Carolina Panthers getting in Chris Tabor?

The Carolina Panthers confirmed Chris Tabor as their new special teams’ coordinator, which represents a potentially shrewd move by the team.

Another domino fell for the Carolina Panthers this week after the organization confirmed the appointment of Chris Tabor as their new special teams’ coordinator. The experienced figure opted to leave the Chicago Bears following the introduction of Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as head coach, which could be hopping out of the frying pan and into the fire based on the pressure Matt Rhule is under right now.

Chase Blackburn was one of the last remaining coaches from the Ron Rivera era in Carolina. Special teams remained a grave concern despite the exceptional kicking of Zane Gonzalez, meaning the decision to remove him from the equation was probably an easy one to make.

Finding coaches with NFL experience has been an absolute must for the Panthers this offseason. Team owner David Tepper decided to give Rhule a reprieve even though almost no progression was demonstrated in 2021, so putting the right people around the former Baylor man was of critical importance ahead of a critical Year 3.

Tabor comes with 14 years of previous knowledge and has had great success coordinating special teams units. Chicago was a top-10 group under his watch over the last two seasons and he has coached Pro Bowl returners in each of the last four seasons to further enhance his credentials.

Chris Tabor is a fantastic hire by Matt Rhule and the Carolina Panthers

At least from the outside looking in, Tabor represents a significant upgrade on Blackburn, who didn’t have his coverage units prepared sufficiently more often than not. This led to ongoing frustrations throughout the season in key moments that eventually cost him his job.

Tabor is walking into a decent situation, all things considered. The Panthers finally found their kicker in Gonzalez after a phenomenal 2021 campaign following his arrival from the Arizona Cardinals, with the production of punter Lachlan Edwards something that should secure the player an extension this offseason.

Couple this with some athletic young players who’ve made big plays on special teams in the past and it’s not hard to see why Tabor considered this a solid option with big changes looming on the Bears.

Special teams’ remain an area that often gets overlooked compared to offensive and defensive efficiency. But one only has to look at the Green Bay Packers‘ capitulation in this particular region at home to the San Francisco 49ers to see what complications might emerge.

Tabor has the potential to provide Carolina with some stability and vast improvement. Something that was sorely lacking under Blackburn’s final two seasons with the organization.

Whether this will be enough for Rhule and the Panthers to turn things around is another matter. There are some serious problem areas that must be addressed, with the head coach also needing to become far better where in-game adjustments are concerned to take the pressure off.

Rhule has flaws – plenty of them.

But appointing someone so highly regarded in league circles as Tabor is a solid bit of business.

Only time will tell, obviously. But the head coach deserves praise for landing Tabor – a man who could completely revolutionize special teams’ play in Carolina with the right personnel.