Should Carolina Panthers make a move and sign a new Coach after Dave Canales was fired today!?….see more…

For the first time in his career, Dave Canales is a head coach in the NFL. The Carolina Panthers hired him after serving one season as offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Bucaneers.

 

Canales’ rise from quarterbacks coach with the Seattle Seahawks to head coach in a span of two years was rather unexpected, given the situation he walked into with the Buccaneers this season. The 42-year-old took over the play-calling duties for a reeling offense that had seen Tom Brady walk away into retirement. Baker Mayfield, who spent time with three teams in the span of one calendar year, was coming to his fourth in that same timeframe.

 

With low expectations around league circles, the Buccaneers overachieved. Tampa Bay won the NFC South for a third consecutive season and Mayfield earned the first Pro Bowl nomination of his career. Canales earned widespread praise for his work, leading to him becoming a head coaching candidate and eventually for Carolina to give him the reins to its operation.

Now, the goal is clear: Change the culture in Carolina. Take a 2-15 team and make them relevant once again. Canales, speaking on “NFL Live” Tuesday, discussed his vision for how he plans to turn the Panthers around.

 

“Really, to lean on our strengths. I think it’s really important,” Canales said. “We have some great continuity happening on the defensive side. I’m really excited to build off of that. And then offensively, just some really good pieces that we have to work off of. Some great talent at the tackle spots, and of course Bryce [Young]. But just getting in here to know, like, this is a place that has seen success over the years and just being able to tap into that.