5 potential replacements if Panthers cut ties with Matt Rhule in-season
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers could target Mike Zimmer
Much would depend on the timing, but the Carolina Panthers won’t want another campaign of abject failure in 2022. Even if that does look like a real possibility after losing their opening two fixtures against the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.
Matt Rhule is a man under fire ahead of a fierce gauntlet of games, many of which are at home to only add to the pressure. David Tepper knows time is of the essence, so it will be telling which way the owner decides to go in the not-too-distant future.
If the Panthers are permitted to acquire a short-term fix from outside the organization, then it might be worth picking up the phone and giving Mike Zimmer a call.
His track record with the Minnesota Vikings over a prolonged period came with many memorable highlights. However, things became a little stagnant in 2021 and it’s clear a fresh start under Kevin O’Connell was the best possible solution for the franchise.
Zimmer is working alongside Deion Sanders in an advisory role at Jackson State University. One would need to examine the logistics, but his old-school approach and no-nonsense mentality could be exactly what the Panthers need at this precise moment.
Whether it’s something that would interest Zimmer is another matter entirely.