How much is at stake for Panthers HC Matt Rhule this offseason?

There is mounting pressure on his shoulders, but just how much is at stake for Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule this offseason?

It perhaps came as a surprise to some that Matt Rhule is still coaching the Carolina Panthers. A dismal run during the 2021 season that saw the team lose 12 of their final 14 games saw his position move to potentially untenable levels, even if the former Baylor man seemed pretty confident in his own job security when speaking with the media.

This confidence proved correct as team owner David Tepper – who gave Rhule a seven-year, $62 million contract and final say on personnel decisions – did not pull the trigger and decided to give his guy one final shot at turning things around in 2022.

Whether the Panthers and Tepper in particular, made the correct decision remains to be seen. But if Rhule wants to finally start proving he is capable of leading an NFL franchise to prominence, then there is an enormous amount of work to do before OTAs and training camp begins.

Rhule gutted his coaching staff immediately following the season, with a couple also leaving of their own accord for similar jobs elsewhere. Experienced figures with proven NFL credentials were sought and acquired, which is something that should help a coach that has struggled to alter his college methods effectively at the next level.

There is obviously increased urgency, which will impact how Carolina approaches free agency and the 2022 NFL Draft. The rumors circulating about another bold move at the quarterback position are already rife across the league, with discussions expected to take place during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine.

This wasn’t a recipe for success last time around for Rhule. Sam Darnold’s time under center was a complete disaster in 2021 following his trade from the New York Jets and moving for someone that isn’t guaranteed to shift the needle once again could have some severe ramifications.

Matt Rhule has to make this offseason count for the Carolina Panthers

In fairness to Rhule, the two drafts under his tenure have been pretty solid. But the Panthers have their work cut out trying to continue this success with just one selection in the first three rounds after the Darnold trade and giving their third-rounder to the Jacksonville Jaguars as part of the C.J. Henderson deal.

The margin for error is now slim. What comes next could dictate whether Rhule will be in the job beyond the 2022 campaign.

An opportunity does await the Panthers if they nail their offseason decisions. There are doubts surrounding all their NFC South foes for one reason or another, which could leave a slight window to make some noise and potentially secure the divisional crown.

Of course, Rhule has to get his own house in order first. A task that proved hard to attain after a complete capitulation during the second season under his leadership.

Most fans have already seen enough, in all honesty. This is probably why Rhule has stayed under the radar this offseason and is not expected to speak at the NFL Scouting Combine, either.

Talk is cheap at this stage for the under-pressure coach. Fans and Tepper want to see genuine progress and a sense of optimism that quickly evaporated following Carolina’s impressive 3-0 start.

Only time will tell as to whether or not Rhule can get the franchise trending in the right manner. What transpires during the offseason will go a long way to determining his fate.