Which potential head coaching candidates for the Carolina Panthers have soaring stock through Week 8 of the 2022 season?
We are now almost at the midway point and the Carolina Panthers have two wins to their name. However, things have certainly looked a lot better on and off the field since team owner David Tepper put his previous head coach Matt Rhule out of his misery after a torrid three years in the role.
Had it not been for an extremely unfortunate end to Carolina’s game at the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8, they’d be sat atop the NFC South right now. But their improvements could lead to some leading contenders for the head coaching gig looking at the Panthers a little differently when the time comes.
Those in power within the organization should be constantly monitoring developments and adjusting the shortlist accordingly. And there’s been a lot to unpack during yet another dramatic NFL campaign so far.
With this in mind, here are five potential Panthers head coaching candidates with soaring stock through Week 8.
Candidate No. 1
Carolina Panthers should watch Eric Bieniemy
Just how much longer can teams around the league overlook Eric Bieniemy for a head coaching position? The Kansas City Chiefs offense is once again cooking in 2022 and although Andy Reid plays a leading role, the offensive coordinator also deserves a substantial amount of credit for what’s transpiring.
Trading Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins came with doubts about how this offense would function. It’s a lot different, for sure, but the production remains elite with quarterback Patrick Mahomes putting in a strong NFL MVP claim for good measure.
The Carolina Panthers had an interest in Bieniemy before hiring Matt Rhule. So another interview cannot be dismissed.
Carolina Panthers should watch Ken Dorsey
It comes as no surprise to see the Buffalo Bills emerging as a strong Super Bowl challenger in 2022. Another outstanding offseason of recruitment coupled with the pieces already on the roster meant anything else would be a failure, but they look almost unstoppable at home and should continue in a similar fashion deep into the postseason.
Having a quarterback with the elite traits Josh Allen brings to the table obviously helps, but Ken Dorsey’s ability to maximize this offense’s production whilst keeping everyone involved has been a standout feature behind Buffalo’s early dominance.
Dorsey is a previous member of the Carolina Panthers coaching staff and worked closely with Cam Newton during the team’s glory years. It’s an unrecognizable organization from those days, but a return to familiar surroundings in a prominent position of power could interest the coach if he’s identified as a person of interest.
This also fits team owner David Tepper’s reported desire to have an offensive-minded head coach after his failed Matt Rhule experiment. Dorsey brings proven credentials and although he’s yet to taste life in the top job, the respected figure has been around winning teams long enough to know what works and what doesn’t.
The Panthers would face a fight for Dorsey. So much would depend on how much Tepper is willing to shell out after his decision to appoint Rhule ended up being a $62 million flop.
Carolina Panthers should watch Shane Steichen
There is no team hotter than the Philadelphia Eagles right now. The NFL’s only remaining unbeaten team looked stronger than ever in Week 8 following their period of rest, with Jalen Hurts and the offense putting on a show to convincingly down the Pittsburgh Steelers en route to a 7-0 record.
This has obviously brought some deserved attention to Shane Steichen’s methods as offensive coordinator. He seems to be calling things beautifully for his quarterback and the gifted playmakers around the signal-caller, which has the Eagles looking like extremely strong candidates to emerge from the NFC and into the Super Bowl.
Of course, there is a lot of football left and plenty to play for. But if Steichen keeps Philadelphia ticking over, then he’s sure to receive a ton of interest when the time arrives.
The Carolina Panthers have endured some tough times on offense in 2022 despite their recent renaissance with P.J. Walker under center. However, the potential of Steichen and a franchise quarterback from the college ranks could be enough for David Tepper to roll the dice.
Much like the situation with Ken Dorsey, Steichen has no experience of being an NFL head coach. However, that hasn’t stopped others in a similar position from thriving over the years and if the Eagles reach the levels expected in the coming weeks, he’ll be a hot commodity.
Carolina Panthers should watch Kellen Moore
The Dallas Cowboys are quietly putting together a tremendous season. Something that not many anticipated when quarterback Dak Prescott was forced to miss time.
Thankfully for Dallas, the performances of backup signal-caller Cooper Rush and the eye-catching game plans implemented by offensive coordinator Kellen Moore went off without a hitch. Prescott is now back and the Cowboys looked like a force to be reckoned with offensively in their dominant triumph over the Chicago Bears in Week 8.
Moore got some head coaching interest earlier this year without quite doing enough to convince another team to take the plunge. The former college standout at Boise State looks ready for the step up in responsibility and this is a wildcard worth monitoring for the Carolina Panthers before finalizing their shortlist of options.
Although just 34 years old, Moore has some solid play-calling experience to call upon and is seemingly well-liked within the franchise. And one only has to look at how he went about his business without Ezekiel Elliot in Week 8 to see how well he’s now adapting to various situations.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was fortunate to keep both Moore and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn during the most recent coaching cycle. One suspects he might not be as lucky next time around.
Carolina Panthers should consider Steve Wilks
It’s been a short sample size for interim head coach Steve Wilks, but the complete change in the Carolina Panthers is night and day compared to Matt Rhule’s disastrous stint with the organization.
There is a sense of purpose. Of organization. Of pride.
And that has been sorely lacking.
You can just tell by listening to Wilks that this is an NFL coach. He holds himself and his players accountable, is bringing everyone closer together, and the performances are much improved from anything we saw over the last two seasons under Rhule.
Wilks is getting a prolonged audition for the job. It’s not the easiest of situations made worse by trading Christian McCaffrey and Robbie Anderson, but the former Arizona Cardinals head coach has each player believing they are capable of something better.
This was always a riddle Rhule couldn’t solve. And the emotion following Carolina’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is further proof of the good work being done in such a short space of time.
It’s been an encouraging start for Wilks. One that could have seen the Panthers surge to the NFC South’s summit had things gone their way late on at the Atlanta Falcons.
Wilks couldn’t have left a better impression over his first three weeks as the interim. If this trend continues, David Tepper would likely give strong thought to making this move permanent.