Panthers promote a familiar face to GM. What’s next

CAROLINA PANTHERS

With Dan Morgan's promotion to president of football operations/general manager, the Carolina Panthers are left to located a head coach.

The Carolina Panthers’ promotion of Dan Morgan as president of football operations/general manager is the first step in reshaping a struggling franchise that finished 2-15 last season.

Taking over for fired Scott Fitterer, Morgan inherits a roster in need of an overhaul. His first order of business is helping owner David Tepper, who secured the third-party assistance of consulting firm Sportsology, settle on the next head coach.

One candidate has already engaged in two interviews.  

“Dan has a thorough knowledge of our football personnel and a clear vision to take us where we all want to go,” Panthers owner David Tepper said via team statement. “We know he will attack this opportunity with the same intensity he did as a Panthers player.”

Drafted in the first round in 2001, the former Miami (Fla.) standout helped the Panthers qualify for their first Super Bowl appearance two seasons later. Known for possessing keen instincts, Morgan registered a record 25 tackles in Super Bowl XXXVIII. He’s a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Morgan spent seven seasons with the Panthers and appeared in the 2004 Pro Bowl. Finishing with 457 career tackles, Morgan is often mentioned as one of team’s top all-time linebackers, alongside Sam Mills, Jon Beason and Luke Kuechly.

After his playing career, Morgan started as a scouting department intern with the Seattle Seahawks in 2010. Over the next several seasons, which included the 2013 “Legion of Boom” Super Bowl triumph, Morgan climbed the organizational ladder, rising to director of pro personnel.

To help expand his professional perspective, Morgan joined the Buffalo Bills in 2018 as their director of player personnel and was mentored by GM Brandon Beane.

Morgan returned to the Panthers in 2021 as assistant general manager.

Panthers seek right coach

The top candidates include Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Tepper’s top target, according to several media outlets. But Johnson, who interviewed with the Panthers remotely last Friday, will coach in Sunday’s NFC title game. The 37-year-old North Carolina native is not eligible to participate in in-person interviews until Monday.

The Panthers reportedly also are interested in Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and defensive coordinator Todd Monken for a second time. The Ravens will face Kansas City in Sunday’s AFC title game.

In the meantime, the Panthers’ top internal candidate, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, met with the Panthers for a second time Monday. Evero, who directed a top-four defense despite a plethora of injuries, is also being pursued by the Seahawks.

Of the 12 candidates linked to the Panthers, they were expected to bring back Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan for a follow-up meeting, but it was canceled Monday with the Tennessee Titans announced they were assembling a deal to make him their coach.

Of the current NFL coaching openings, some insiders consider the Panthers the least desirable destination, lagging the Seahawks, Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, and Tennessee Titans. The New England Patriots replaced Bill Belichick internally with Jerod Mayo.

Tepper, who paid a league-imposed $300,000 fine for throwing a drink at Jacksonville Jaguars fans near the end of a Week 17 loss, is considered toxic and impulsive. He fired Ron Rivera, Matt Ruhle and Reich in-season. Reich lasted just 11 games, the NFL’s shortest coaching stint in 45 years.

But Tepper has plenty of cash on hand to throw around for a quick fix.

Making the right coaching hire would be a start.

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