Which Carolina Panthers are spearheading an immensely positive culture shift within the organization heading into the 2023 campaign?
There is a completely different atmosphere surrounding the Carolina Panthers these days. The inept previous regime was mercifully removed from the equation less than halfway through the 2022 season, which was followed by slowly rebuilding from the ground up after Matt Rhule left the franchise in tatters.
Much credit goes to Steve Wilks for steadying the ship despite losing Christian McCaffrey. But for the Panthers to take that next step, a shift in previous methods was the only way to accomplish this feat.
Fast forward a few months, and the doom has been replaced by hope. It's been a long time since fans could say that, but nobody is getting carried away given how long it could take for these landmark alterations to bear fruit.
With that being said, here are four Panthers who have spearheaded the culture shift in 2023.
Scott Fitterer - Carolina Panthers GM
After Matt Rhule no longer had the final say on personnel moves, it was finally time for general manager Scott Fitterer to demonstrate why the Carolina Panthers brought him into the franchise. Playing second fiddle to such incompetence wasn't easy, but it also tainted his own reputation considering how bad things went before the costly experiment came to an end.
Fitterer set about removing Rhule's stain quickly. There's been a noticeable shift in professionalism, collaboration, and aggression to recruitment matters, which has the Panthers looking in a far better state and also boasting a much healthier salary cap for good measure.
This is a positive step forward and Fitterer is back in fans' good graces after a memorable offseason. But if certain moves don't work out as expected, his seat will get hotter.
Frank Reich - Carolina Panthers HC
Frank Reich made Carolina Panthers franchise history for the second time this off-season. The team's first-ever quarterback during their expansion year came full circle to become the first head coach with an offensive background - something that was desperately needed given how things are currently unfolding around the NFL.
Reich was dealt a rough hand with the Indianapolis Colts. But his experience, knowledge of what makes the organization tick, and concise plan on how to take the franchise forward gave him the edge over Steve Wilks.
It didn't take long for Reich to set the tone. There is a purpose to everything, which came across during the recruitment phase and was also evident throughout early offseason workouts to further raise optimism.
When asked about the atmosphere shift, Reich stated via the team's website that he feels something special is brewing. However, he was also quick to keep everyone's feet on the ground until further notice.
"I'm excited that there's a lot of positive energy. I feel it in the building. I feel it on the field with players. I feel it in the community with our fans, and I think our players feel that as well. Having been around this game for a while, I think you take the mode of 'we've got a lot,' we want to prove it every day. Are we excited? Yes. Do we have high expectations? We sure do. But I've learned through the years, don't get too far out in front of those expectations."Frank Reich via Panthers.com
Reich is getting an instant chance at coaching redemption. He's set the foundations alongside others, but it will count for nothing if they cannot get the job done when things get serious.
Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers QB
No matter what personnel a team has elsewhere, this is a quarterback-driven league. And the Carolina Panthers haven't had any stability at football's most pivotal position since their controversial decision to move on from Cam Newton in 2020.
A series of flawed trades and free-agent signings for reclamation projects went as expected. Carolina also drafted Matt Corral, but mismanaged reps and a serious foot injury ended his rookie campaign before it began.
Much like the coaching situation, something drastic was needed. Looking at the options available, Carolina's route was the boldest imaginable.
The Panthers sent shockwaves through the league by trading for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Their initial target was Bryce Young, who only enhanced this thought further throughout the evaluation process en route to hearing his name called first.
While there are durability concerns, Young has traits that cannot be taught. His processing is on another level, which is matched by supreme accuracy, composure under pressure, and the strongest work ethic imaginable for good measure.
Young's smooth transition into the Panthers has commanded immediate respect. There is an intent and confidence in the way he goes about his business that's already got more established locker room figures fully on board, with many speaking about how impressive the Alabama product has been to date.
Asking one player to shift the culture is a huge responsibility. Newton managed it with flamboyance and although Young might do it differently, he's got every chance of achieving similar feats.
David Tepper - Carolina Panthers owner
It wasn't the easiest start to life as an NFL owner for David Tepper. His shocking decision to hire Matt Rhule as head coach and primary decision-maker hiring was the worst decision in franchise history and had the scope to set them back decades if the billionaire did not cut his extremely costly experiment short.
The debacle at Rock Hill regarding the team's ambitious headquarters only cast further doubt on Tepper's competency. But it's not about making mistakes, it's what you learn from them that counts.
Tepper saw the error of his ways and reacted accordingly. He let football men take the lead, hired someone with legitimate NFL experience in Frank Reich, and bankrolled his desire to form arguably the NFL's most accomplished coaching staff.
The Carolina Panthers' decision to trade up for Bryce Young at No. 1 overall also got Tepper's seal of approval. It's been a high-risk approach in pursuit of turning things around, but one that comes with a clear plan for sustainable success long-term for the first time under his ownership.
This offseason has been Tepper's redemption ark, so to speak. He's still heavily involved, but the structure put in place is more in keeping with traditional methods of NFL success rather than going against the grain.
Maybe Tepper was trying to prove too much by hiring Rhule. Thankfully, that's a harsh mistake he won't be making again.