Matt Rhule earns his fourth year as Carolina Panthers head coach
This is probably the last thing most Carolina Panthers fans want to see. However, I have a worrying feeling that David Tepper will get his first feeling of a winning season and stick with Matt Rhule.
After compiling a 10-23 record over his first two seasons in charge, most Panthers fans would have been happy to see the back of Rhule in the offseason. But Tepper stuck with the man notorious for his third-year turnarounds at Temple and Baylor.
From the way the offseason has panned out, it seems Rhule has relinquished some control and has left general manager Scott Fitterer to do his job. Maybe the pressure that came with being more than just a head coach was negatively affecting him, so if he can focus solely on coaching in 2022 it will help.
If the Panthers bring in Baker Mayfield and they sneak into the sixth or seventh seed, this gives Tepper a conundrum whether or not to keep Rhule for his fourth year. Should the Panthers do the unthinkable and actually win a playoff game, it would almost guarantee his return in 2023.
We’ve heard talk recently of a five-year plan, but one would imagine this upcoming season is do or die for Rhule.