The Carolina Panthers were a complete laughingstock before general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales took charge. This perennial struggler seemed to find new depths of rock bottom under the likes of Frank Reich and Matt Rhule. David Tepper's inept ownership also came under intense scrutiny.
Most viewed this organization as a poisoned chalice. Morgan and Canales saw an opportunity. And with the power duo about to embark on their third draft at the helm, all signs are pointing up.
The Panthers won the NFC South and reached the playoffs in Year 2 of this project. That's further ahead than most thought they would be, but Morgan didn't settle.
Dan Morgan acknowledges how much opinions are changing about the Carolina Panthers
He was ultra-aggressive in free agency, signing edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and second-team All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd. And make no mistake; people around the league are starting to look at the Panthers a little differently now.
Morgan acknowledged the changing perceptions during a conversation with Kay Adams on the Up and Adams Show at the annual league meeting. The front-office leader knew the respect wasn't there before. It is now, but he is eager to keep on proving it on the Panthers' path to prosperity.
"Even in my first year, you just felt it was the little old Panthers. You didn't feel any respect for guys. I kind of feel that respect growing.
"We really care about what we think in the building. We really don't care what everybody else thinks. At the same time, you can kind of feel the perception towards the franchise. You definitely feel that shifting to where people are starting to take notice. Starting to gain respect, and we've got to go out and earn that."
"My first year, we were just kind of the lowly Panthers... You definitely feel that shifting to where people are starting to take notice."
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 31, 2026
Panthers GM Dan Morgan on gaining respect across the league 📈@Panthers | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/QYoPdWG00P
Morgan might not care about what people outside the building think, but winning back respect was a big part of his introductory press conference.
He wanted the Panthers' logo to be feared once again. He wanted teams to know they would be in for a fight whenever Carolina came to town. Things aren't there just yet, but this once basement-dweller is well on the right track.
This next step will be the most challenging. The Panthers have gone from the hunter to the hunted. Their massive splashes in free agency raise expectations. Being in the playoffs is one thing. Being considered as a legitimate Super Bowl contender is something else entirely.
That notion isn't lost on Morgan. He's been around winning and contending teams as a player and in the front office. The former linebacker knows the Panthers are getting closer. He'll also know that complacency cannot creep into the building under any circumstances.
And if the Panthers can keep the trajectory pointing up, they will have everyone's attention.