7 offensive-minded head coaching candidates the Panthers must target
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers must consider Eric Bieniemy
Had David Tepper appointed Eric Bieniemy over Matt Rhule in 2020, the Carolina Panthers might not be in the mess they find themselves in right now. Just why the Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator hasn’t been promoted to a top job is a mystery, but the billionaire might not look away a second time after a humbling first hiring process that brought about massive failure.
Bieniemy has the Chiefs’ offense humming this season. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are helping a lot, obviously, but there is now a consistent track record where the coach is concerned that cannot be ignored for much longer by other NFL teams.
Perhaps it was Bieniemy’s intention to work with Cam Newton that sent Tepper in a different direction. The owner and then Rhule wasted no time in removing the former NFL MVP from the equation, which brought about a series of cataclysmic moves at football’s most important position and even led them back to their former signal-caller in 2021.
It looks as if the Panthers will be looking to draft a top quarterback prospect from the college ranks next spring. Bieniemy has been instrumental in Mahomes’ development into an elite player, so there’s just no telling how beneficial he could be to Carolina and someone like Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud in this scenario.
With intriguing candidates emerging with every passing year, this might be Bieniemy’s final chance to attain a head coaching gig. Something that Reid stated should have happened long ago.