The search for a new head coach in Carolina is over as the Panthers agreed to a deal with Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales.
Canales, 42, will be tasked with getting No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young back on track as the future of the franchise after a disastrous rookie season under previous head coach Frank Reich.
Panthers are hiring Buccaneers’ offensive Dave Canales as their new head coach, per sources. Panthers have offered the job and Canales is taking it. “It will get done,” per source. pic.twitter.com/yddN1uEKyd
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 25, 2024
Canales spent one season as an offensive coordinator but has a total of 14 years of experience in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks under legendary head coach Pete Carroll. While in Seattle Canales has had roles as a wide receivers coach, passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach before leaving for Tampa Bay in 2023.
Although his experience is slim in a play-calling role, Canales proved he could revive a former first-overall quarterback which he did with Baker Mayfield this past season. After a disastrous season spent with both the Panthers and Los Angeles Rams, Mayfield found his way to Tampa with Canales where he helped the former Oklahoma quarterback to the best season of his career passing for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns while leading the team to the playoffs.
In his final year with Seattle, Canales was also the quarterbacks coach for Geno Smith who also had the best season of his career after taking over for Russell Wilson which also resulted in a playoff appearance.
Getting Young back on track will be the top priority for Canales but the next step will be for new general manager Dan Morgan, who also worked with Canales in Seattle, to surround the Heisman Trophy winner with enough talent to succeed.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
