Which Carolina Panthers news stories are hitting the headlines as the team made their replacement for fired general manager Scott Fitterer official?
After David Tepper hired a consultancy firm to assist the Carolina Panthers with their hiring process, the billionaire ended up promoting from within by appointing Dan Morgan as president of football operations/general manager. This is not the fresh start most fans were hoping for, but the former linebacker is widely respected around the league and holds a deep association with the franchise from his time as a player.
As expected, the headlines were in plentiful supply after the news broke. Among the stories generating column inches include Tepper's confidence, the owner's reported desire for a comfort blanket, the Panthers missing out on a potential head coaching candidate, and the hard work awaiting Morgan.
Let's delve into each topic in more detail.
Carolina Panthers head coach candidate goes elsewhere
The Carolina Panthers have their general manager in place, which seemed like a done deal after revelations about Dan Morgan being involved in their interview process for a new head coach. One candidate who impressed was Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, but he won't be attending his second meeting with the organization after accepting a position elsewhere.
Instead of keeping his options open, Callahan agreed to take on the vacant head coaching position with the Tennessee Titans. Whether he was high on Carolina's list is irrelevant now, they need to identify their alternatives and strike with conviction in pursuit of getting the right man into the building.
Morgan is officially in position, so something could be confirmed in the not-too-distant future. Especially if they don't plan on waiting around for someone like Ben Johnson or Mike Macdonald.
David Tepper's confidence
It seems as if David Tepper is incapable of hitting the reset button entirely. It looked for a long time as if the Carolina Panthers were heading in that direction - especially after hiring a consultancy firm to guide the erratic billionaire. As it turned out, the owner ended up promoting Dan Morgan to the newly named position of president of football operations/general manager.
To say this received a mixed response would be something of an understatement. Morgan is a close friend and associate of recently fired general manager Scott Fitterer. He's also been complicit in the team's indifferent roster building during his three years in Carolina's front office.
Being a former Panthers player might extend some level of courtesy regarding the benefit of the doubt where Morgan is concerned. He'll need to distance himself from Fitterer's methods and win over the fanbase through smart decision-making as part of a shared vision for the future. Something Tepper believes he'll tackle with intensity based on a statement via the team's website.
"Dan has a thorough knowledge of our football personnel and a clear vision to take us where we all want to go. We know he will attack this opportunity with the same intensity he did as a Panthers player."David Tepper via Panthers.com
This is another chain in the succession of abject failure that's enveloped the Panthers under Tepper's ownership. Everyone will be rooting for Morgan to succeed. Whether he can overcome some significant hurdles and rid himself of Fitterer's stench as a trusted ally is another matter.
Hard work ahead for Carolina Panthers GM Dan Morgan
One cannot overstate the amount of hard work ahead for new president of football operations/general manager Dan Morgan. The Carolina Panthers are a mess from top to bottom. They have the league's worst roster by a considerable margin. They don't have a first-round pick in 2024. They also have some established figures out of contract and looking to get paid.
This is going to be a baptism of fire for Morgan in no uncertain terms despite his roster knowledge giving him a head start. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports acknowledged that the new appointment has his work cut out, but being part of the head coaching interview process up to now might be an advantage when it's all said and done.
"[Dan] Morgan has his work cut out for him in his new role, taking over a team that had the lowest offensive output in the league in 2023. He takes over for Scott Fitterer, whom [David] Tepper fired a day after the season. The head-coaching position remains vacant as the Panthers move on to a second round of interviews that will involve in-person meetings. Sources say that search committee has included Morgan, which was a good sign for his long-term future there. Carolina had virtual interviews with 11 candidates, including two internal interviews with interim head coach Chris Tabor and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero."Jonathan Jones, CBS Sports
Fans are right to look upon Morgan's hiring with skepticism. Tepper has done nothing right on the football side of things since purchasing the Panthers from Jerry Richardson. If the hedge fund manager's latest moves blow up in his face, all confidence about his ability to successfully run an NFL franchise will evaporate for good.
Carolina Panthers comfort blanket
It's no secret that David Tepper likes to involve himself in the football operations. One could argue that he's well within his right to do so as the team's owner. However, there are countless examples around the league of meddling from the very top bringing little in the way of success.
Do you hear anything from ownership of teams such as the San Francisco 49ers or Baltimore Ravens? No. That's because there is a stable structure in place that enables football professionals to go about their business without any pressure. Something that Tepper has yet to grasp.
Perhaps Dan Morgan's new title - president of football operations/general manager - indicates there will be a shift in approach and less ownership involvement. But Josina Anderson of CBS Sports revealed the previous "trust and embedded comfort" meant this was a done deal from a long way out. Perhaps even from the beginning.
"League sources have consistently remarked from the beginning that Dan Morgan had the trust and embedded comfort of owner David Tepper. One league source who just chimed in added he feels like Morgan was Tepper’s guy all along. A new era begins."Josina Anderson via X/Twitter
This shouldn't shock anybody. Tepper likes to surround himself with those who've enabled his behavior previously. All fans can do is pray things will start trending upward and hope Morgan can overcome the obvious adversity heading into an offseason of critical importance.