There has been a lot of speculation regarding who the Carolina Panthers will select as their next head coach following the firing of Frank Reich. Given the facts that the Carolina Panthers traded a significant amount of draft capital to move up to take quarterback Bryce Young with the first overall pick but still display some pro bowl caliber talent on defense, the obvious choice for the Panthers would be to bring in an offensive coach.
Then there are a list of characteristics that the Carolina Panthers will pursue: the Panthers are going to want someone who can maximize the talents at the quarterback position, a young up-and-coming coach who will bring the Carolina Panthers offense into the modern age and a coach who has shown capabilities as a play caller. When you focus on those characteristics, there are a few coaches whose names jump off the page.
Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator currently leads the pack for the Carolina Panthers HC job
Based on the way this season has unfolded, the current number one choice for the Carolina Panthers will be to bring in Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson. Johnson has worked his way up the ranks within the Lions organization and was named the offensive coordinator in 2022 and since has transformed the Detroit Lions offense into an elite unit.
One of the biggest advantages of Johnson is what he is clearly able to do with the quarterback position. Following a disappointing stint with the Los Angeles Rams, the Lions acquired former first overall pick Jared Goff and Johnson has managed to utilize a play-action based offense to get his quarterback rating up to 96.9 in 2023 which ranks 8th best in the NFL. In a league that has become oversaturated with elite arm talent, getting Goff up to this position demonstrates the elite abilities of Johnson.
Carolina Panthers Offensive Fit
Another major benefit to bringing in Ben Johnson would be that the pieces exist with the Carolina Panthers for him to run the same style offense that he has run with the Detroit Lions. Johnson has excelled with an elite offense line and an effective running game opening up play-action opportunities for Goff. While it never possible to make a perfect translation, the Carolina Panthers have an above average offensive line and running backs like Chubba Hubbard that would help him establish a play-action system in Carolina. A play action system would make adjustment to the NFL game much easier for Bryce Young and would maximize his talent to the fullest.
Alternative Option with some Promise
While Johnson remains the favorite in Carolina, there are reports that the Panthers might also elect to go with Los Angeles Chargers Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore. A similar argument can be seen in terms of managing an elite quarterback with Moore working well with Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
Source: LAC offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is expected to have a real shot at the Panthers head coaching gig.
The first call will likely go to Ben Johnson, the Lions OC, but Moore figures to be a serious candidate this time around.
After previously interviewing on…
— Cam Marino (@MarinoNFL) December 2, 2023
The issue with this argument is that Justin Herbert is a MVP-caliber quarterback who has struggled to improve during Moore’s tenure. While Herbert put out an excellent season in 2020 that earned him the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, his numbers simply haven’t improved since.
Moore has also only been the offensive coordinator of the Chargers for a single season. Prior to his current position with the Chargers, Moore was the offensive coordinator with the immense talent on the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys “mutually agreed” to part ways with Moore, strongly indicating that he was due to be fired following three seasons where Moore failed to get the most out of the Cowboys offense.
Following his departure, the Cowboys offense seems to have really taken off this season as the Cowboys have become the fifth ranked offense in the NFL. Dak Prescott specifically seems to have dramatically improved this season with a quarterback rating of 108.3, good enough for second best in the NFL (second only behind system-quarterback Brock Purdy).