Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn could be among the potential candidates for the Carolina Panthers’ head coaching opening this offseason. Team owner David Tepper is already doing his due diligence on his targets as he prepares for an extensive coaching search.
The Panthers fired former head coach Frank Reich late in November following the team’s ugly 1-10 record at the time. More coaching changes were made, with special teams coordinator Chris Tabor taking over as interim head coach.
Carolina is expected to assess all their options in the offseason to find a better replacement for Reich. And according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the team could interview a slew of candidates that fit their needs.
With the offense being a priority, the veteran reporters highlighted that a number of offensive coordinators are expected to get a shot at the role, including Quinn who has done a great job with the Cowboys this 2023 season.
“It’s all set up well for a young coach such as Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who was believed to be their target last year before pulling his name out of the search (and all others) the night before he was supposed to get on a plane to Charlotte for an in-person interview,” Rapoport and Pelissero wrote.
“Modernizing and fixing the offense remains a priority, so Dolphins OC Frank Smith and Texans OC Bobby Slowik are also logical candidates, among others. Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is highly valued in the building and should get an interview, too. Hiring an experienced coach such as Cowboys DC Dan Quinn, who knows the division well from his Atlanta days, is a possibility as well.”
It will be interesting to see who the Carolina Panthers will actually target and interview for their head coaching role. Dan Quinn, for his part, has been a strong candidate for multiple head coaching jobs over the past couple of years due to his work on the Dallas Cowboys’ defense.
But as Rapoport and Pelissero mentioned, Ben Johnson, Frank Smith and Bobby Slowik are also intriguing prospects considering their work for their respective teams. The Lions and Dolphins, in particular, boast some of the best offenses in the NFL this 2023.
Meanwhile, Slowik has been crucial for the Texans as they are able to fully utilize CJ Stroud’s strength. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young could really use someone like that as well.
Why Carolina Panthers Job Will Be Interesting for Potential Head Coaches
While taking over a team that has only won two games in 15 matches seem to pose a lot of red flags, that might not be the case for the Carolina Panthers.
Rapoport and Pelissero highlighted that the team could be an enticing destination for plenty of coaches, thanks to the young talents they have and a supportive ownership group led by David Tepper.
“They have a quarterback, No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, who has made strides in recent weeks. The culture of the building is in good shape. And resources are never a problem under Tepper, who has invested heavily in every area of the building (operations, player engagement, nutrition, etc.) since he bought the team in 2018,” the report furthered.
It’s definitely embarrassing to see the Panthers struggle as badly as they did this 2023, but if Tepper and the Panthers’ front office are able to do their coaching search right, it could really spark a major turnaround for the team.
Sure enough, fans are hoping for just that.
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