Dave Canales, Dan Morgan and the Panthers’ future

CHARNELLE SMITH-WALKER | CAROLINA PANTHERS

New Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales talks to reporters during an introductory press conference Thursday at Bank of America Stadium. Panthers general manager Dan Morgan is on the left.

Following his family into Bank of America Stadium’s Red Zone Lounge Thursday, Panthers coach Dave Canales made sure his wife, Lizzy and four children, were seated along the front row.

Canales then walked onstage and sat next to his longtime friend, new president of football operations/general manager Dan Morgan. Owner David Tepper kicked off the introductory press conference with a brief, optimistic statement.

“This is an exciting day,” he said.

After going through three coaches over five seasons, Tepper is gambling he found the right combination, a duo who worked “two doors down” for several seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.
Tepper hopes he found a young Southern version of Seahawks GM John Scheider and coach Pete Carroll who from 2010-23, won Super Bowl XLVIII and five NFC West Division titles.

Of Morgan and Canales, Tepper said: “They are connectors.”

They also have a daunting task, reviving a team that, at times, bordered on unwatchable, stumbling to an NFL-worst 2-15.

Canales’ meteoric rise through the coaching profession started with a simple goal: coach varsity football at his alma mater, Carson (Calif.) High.

From there, Canales moved to tight ends coach at El Camino College (2006-08), then Southern California, where he was assistant strength coach. Canales has been in the NFL since 2010, beginning as the Seahawks’ receivers coach and rising to offensive coordinator before landing with Carolina.

“I’m nervous,” he said. “Let’s be real.”

A longshot at first to land the Panthers’ gig, Canales pursued the opportunity, despite reports of internal backstabbing last season and ownership meddling.

Known as a quarterback whisperer, Canales’ said the opportunity to groom 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick Bryce Young attracted him to Carolina. Since 2018, Canales has directed Seahawks quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Geno Smith and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield to career campaigns.

“In Seattle, we never were anywhere close to touching the first overall pick,” Canales said. “And the more that I got ready for this interview and started watching Bryce, looking at my notes from his (evaluation), that’s just a year ago.

“We’re evaluating him as a player, as a person. And with all the information that we could, I just got more and more fired up about the opportunity to have this amazing talent. And he’s the guy. He’s the right guy that we all talk about when we have that quarterback—that face of the franchise type of player.” 

Carolina needs some ‘dawgs’

A linebacker during the Panthers’ first Super Bowl run in 2003, Morgan started at the bottom of the scouting profession – he picked up players from the airport.

But learning from Scheider and Carroll, Morgan described the type of players he wants to recruit. Like the ones he was surrounded by from 2001-03, when the Panthers rose from 1-15 to NFC champions.

“First of all, we need to find those leaders, those competitors, as (former Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart) would say – those dawgs,” he said. “We need some dawgs. We have to get some guys that are passionate about football, that love football, that want to come out every day and compete on the practice field (and) in the weight room.

“We need competitors.”

Named GM on Jan. 22, Morgan signed several assistant coaches and orchestrated an executive coup by luring Kansas City Chiefs executive Brandt Tilis to Charlotte. As executive vice president of football operations, Tilis will aid Morgan in his transition.

The Panthers’ new brain trust is working on keeping defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero in the fold and free-agent season opens March 13.
“It’s great to add Brandt and his experience to our organization,” Morgan said. “He comes from a championship-caliber team in Kansas City and will play a lead role in our front office. We are looking forward to getting him here and working together to build this team.”  

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