Dave Canales has the full support of everyone associated with the Carolina Panthers. Not everyone shares that opinion.
With the head coach looking for the Panthers to take the next step after securing the NFC South championship in 2025, pressure inevitably builds as expectations rise. This led one NFL analyst down an unusual path if Canales fluffs his lines in Carolina.
Moe Moton of The Bleacher Report named the Panthers among the potential landing spots for Mike Tomlin in 2027. The chance to work with talented defenders and the NFC South's general weakness could be strong selling points. Having a say in the quarterback direction is also intriguing.
Carolina Panthers have faith in Dave Canales, and the Mike Tomlin talk is unfair
And though Tomlin will be a hot name in the next head-coaching cycle, an overlooked subplot probably makes the Panthers a no-go club.
"(Mike) Tomlin has expertise on the defensive side of the ball and may be intrigued by the addition of Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd, edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips and rookie second-round defensive tackle Lee Hunter. The Panthers could also give him some say-so on how to handle the quarterback position. Lastly, Carolina plays in arguably the league's weakest division, which gives Tomlin a shot at a quick turnaround with immediate results."
Tomlin's credentials need no introduction. He's a highly respected coach whose prolific spell with the Pittsburgh Steelers ended this offseason. Instead of jumping right back in, he opted to take a job at NBC Sports, which keeps him involved while also taking stock of the future.
If Tomlin gets the itch to coach again, there will be a queue of suitors looking to secure his services.
Depending on how Canales fares this season, the Panthers could be among them. But Moton missed something when discussing the bold possibility.
David Tepper.
Mike Tomlin and David Tepper have a complicated history
Tomlin and Tepper have history. And it's not good.
When the billionaire hedge fund manager was a minority owner of the Steelers, he was reportedly part of a consortium that wanted the head coach fired back in 2018. Their efforts were unsuccessful, and he lasted eight more years in Pittsburgh before both side went their separate ways.
Time (and money) might be enough for Tomlin to forget about this coup to remove him. At the same time, these sorts of scars don't go away.
All this is moot for now.
Canales has the Panthers on the right path to prosperity. They should make a bold bid to defend their division crown, and they have the talent to make some noise in the playoffs with a little bit of luck along the way.
Anything less, and Tepper might decide a fresh start is needed.
Tomlin would be high on anyone's shortlist. He will have no shortage of offers if a route back into coaching is his chosen path, but a move to the Panthers doesn't seem all that likely.
Carolina finally has stability with Canales and general manager Dan Morgan. Tepper cannot waste it by chasing another big name.
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