7 potential new head coaches the Panthers should already be thinking about

Carolina Panthers should monitor Sean Payton

David Tepper is known to swing for the fences and normally gets what he wants. If the same applies next year should Matt Rhule get fired, then Sean Payton will be among the guys targeted by the Carolina Panthers.

This would be nothing short of a bombshell considering his close connection with the New Orleans Saints, a fierce rival of the Panthers. Payton completely transformed the organization from bottom-feeders to Super Bowl winners and although they’ve fallen short in the postseason lately, he can look back on his time in Louisiana with an enormous sense of accomplishment.

Payton has been in the rumor mill plenty since his decision to step away. There were reports of a $100 million offer on the table from the Miami Dolphins that also included Tom Brady potentially taking a percentage of ownership in the team and the Dallas Cowboys have been strongly linked if Mike McCarthy cannot meet expectations in 2022.

The same applies to the Panthers, with a report earlier this year suggesting that Tepper would make Payton an offer he couldn’t refuse. Something that would shake the NFL to its foundations.

In all honesty, for Payton to accept any offer from Carolina would take a lot. And money is not an issue for someone that’s earned a bundle throughout his career.

Still, it’s fun to think about. Even if Matt Rhule did get assurances from Tepper that there was nothing much to it.

For now, anyway.