Which dark horse candidates could the Carolina Panthers consider for their vacant head coaching position in 2024 after firing Frank Reich?
The Carolina Panthers are now making plans to appoint their second head coach in consecutive years. This will be the fifth person at the helm in two years following Matt Rhule, Steve Wilks, the recently departed Frank Reich, and current interim Chris Tabor.
David Tepper has a lot of explaining to do during his scheduled media availability later this morning. His tenure as owner continues to be an embarrassing one, which means he must get his next hire correct in pursuit of getting this franchise off the canvas and back into contention.
Some obvious names are coming up in speculation. While some of those will be considered, Tepper's known for going bold and often against the grain, so nothing can be ruled out one way or another.
With this in mind, here are six dark horse candidates the Panthers might consider to be their next head coach in 2024.
Carolina Panthers could hire Dan Quinn
- Defensive Coordinator | Dallas Cowboys
With Mike McCarthy's job prospects beyond the current campaign improving with every passing week, this could be the right time to prise Dan Quinn away from the Dallas Cowboys. While his previous time as head coach with the Atlanta Falcons didn't go well, he remains a highly respected mind who should get a ton of interest during the next cycle.
This would go away from hiring an offensive guru to mold rookie quarterback Bryce Young, which is off-putting. But if Quinn convinces David Tepper if interviewed that he can find the right coaches and coordinators capable of bringing the No. 1 overall pick along, it cannot be dismissed entirely.
Carolina Panthers could hire Kellen Moore
- Offensive Coordinator | Los Angeles Chargers
When the Carolina Panthers made Frank Reich their head coach earlier this year, his connections and ambitions to mold an all-star coaching staff tipped the scales in his favor. According to multiple reports, Kellen Moore was next in line.
The former college quarterback star was the Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator at the time. He's since moved on to the Los Angeles Chargers to call plays, which has been a mixed bag up to now as pressure continues to mount on head coach Brandon Staley.
That won't put off David Tepper from taking another look at Moore. If he was impressed the first time, another year of experience wouldn't be seen as a bad thing despite how things are currently unfolding in the California sunshine.
The Chargers currently rank No. 11 in total offense with 347.5 yards per game. Moore does have the benefit of a franchise-caliber presence under center in Justin Herbert and some outstanding skill position players, so one could argue they should be much higher all things considered.
With that being said, Tepper is impulsive. Once someone talks him into giving them a shot - which seems to have been the case with both Matt Rhule and Reich - there's nothing anybody can do to change his mind.
If Moore was No. 2 on his list last season, the Panthers will take another look. Although in an ideal world, the new general manager will get to pick the head coach, not Tepper.
Don't hold your breath for that to occur, though.
Carolina Panthers could hire Brian Johnson
- Offensive Coordinator | Philadelphia Eagles
It came as no surprise to see the Philadelphia Eagles lose their two coordinators to head coaching positions during the 2023 cycle. Their remarkable campaign that ultimately fell agonizingly short in the Super Bowl dictated as much, with Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon securing top jobs at the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals respectively.
Could history repeat itself this time around? The Eagles look well on course to defend their NFC conference championship, which is bound to cast eyes on position coaches and coordinators once again.
In the Carolina Panthers' case, Brian Johnson's name should be discussed. Despite having just one year of coordinator experience at the NFL level, he's held the position in college and deserves endless credit for assisting Jalen Hurts on his meteoric rise to superstardom.
Johnson was the quarterbacks coach tasked with nurturing Hurts' obvious talents. His firm but fair approach ensured the two parties hit it off right from the outset, allowing the former second-round pick to flourish from the moment he got under center.
This is something the Panthers desperately need for rookie signal-caller Bryce Young. His development is being severely mismanaged thanks to a bland scene and suspect personnel - especially on the offensive line - so the sooner someone with legitimate credentials comes in to help Carolina's new prized possession, the better.
If the Eagles go deep into the playoffs and perhaps even win the Super Bowl, that might be Johnson when push comes to shove.
Carolina Panthers could hire Greg Olsen
This came like a bolt from the sky on Monday afternoon. The Athletic reported that former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen would be interested in filling the head coaching vacancy if approached, which raised eyebrows around the league and led many to speculate whether or not it's something David Tepper would contemplate.
To be clear, Olsen is a great guy. He was a phenomenal player for the Panthers, remains a strong presence within the community, and is thriving as FOX Sports' lead analyst with insightful analysis that doesn't make things too complex for the casual viewer.
But he is not a head coach.
Olsen doesn't need the stress. He doesn't need to risk his reputation and standing within the Panthers community. More importantly, he doesn't need a meddling owner like Tepper breathing down his neck at every turn.
Could Olsen be a coach or front-office figure down the line? Sure. But stepping out of the booth and into the hot seat wouldn't be well received and history states it might not go well.
Remember the uproar when the Houston Texans were considering Josh McCown as their head coach? Remember how Jeff Saturday fared when he replaced Frank Reich as interim head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2022?
These are just two prime examples. While it's a nice story that could restore some much-needed culture, it's too much of a risk for a beleaguered owner who must get his next hire correct.
Carolina Panthers could hire Bill Belichick
- Head Coach | New England Patriots
David Tepper's always wanted to make a big splash. That's been his big ambition since purchasing the Carolina Panthers for $2.275 billion from Jerry Richardson, but he has failed to bring even moderate success to the organization as yet.
However, the biggest fish of all could be available when the 2023 season concludes.
There seems to be a growing belief that Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots will go their separate ways after a glittering spell spanning more than 20 years. The AFC East outfit has steadily regressed since Tom Brady left town and the Patriot Way that was so successful previously doesn't seem to be having the same effect on the new generation.
Belichick is still under contract, so the Patriots might hold onto him in pursuit of getting another team to trade. That's absolutely out of the question for Carolina, but it's a different story if Belichick is let go by Robert Kraft.
There's been no indication Belichick is done coaching whether the Patriots keep him around or not. The legendary figure would need some assurances regarding control, but if there was one person Tepper might take a back seat for, it's one of the greatest coaches in history.
This would be met with a mixed response, especially if Belichick is also allowed to be a general manager of sorts. But the opinion of others when it comes to decision-making has never mattered to Tepper and is unlikely to do so again in this scenario.
Carolina Panthers could hire Mike Macdonald
- Defensive Coordinator | Baltimore Ravens
When the Carolina Panthers hired the first offensive-minded head coach in franchise history, many thought it was a sign of moving with the times. As it turned out, it became another unmitigated disaster that eventually led to Frank Reich's firing after just 11 games.
What an embarrassment.
David Tepper needs to explore all options - offensively or defensively - to finally get the Panthers out of squalor and into contention. Mike Macdonald is a name that's going relatively under the radar, but he's got solid credentials and is a coach on the up - something that could lead to interview requests when the time comes.
Macdonald is coming in for praise for his fine work as Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator this season. He's got the unit humming, among the league's best, and is nurturing players to their expected levels such as stud safety Kyle Hamilton.
There is an inexperience factor to consider. However, Macdonald now stems from the Jim and John Harbaugh tree having left Michigan to become Baltimore's defensive coordinator in 2022. A pedigree like that never gets overlooked.
It'll be interesting to see how Tepper approaches this. He might swing for the fences in an attempt to finally lure Ben Johnson from the Detroit Lions. If that ambitious coup fails, anything and everyone comes into play.