The Carolina Panthers have fired their head coach, Matt Rhule, after a 1-4 start to the 2022 season and a 11-27 record overall. Former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks will take over head coaching duties. He was formerly the Cardinals head coach for just one year, earning just a 3-13 record.
It’s unlikely that Wilks will be a long-term solution for this team, so here is an early look at three possible replacements for Rhule after the 2022-2023 season has wrapped up.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, has been on or at the top of these kinds of coaching lists since the team made its first of four-straight AFC Championship games in 2018. He’s never been hired, however, despite being interviewed by a few teams.
With his wealth of offensive knowledge and experience under Andy Reid, Bieniemy has crafted one of the most dangerous offenses in the entire NFL. Even though the Chiefs lost one of the best receivers in the league, Bieniemy and company have not missed a beat. He could unlock this Panthers offense and use Christian McCaffrey in ways that take advantage of every moment he has left in his prime. And if the team has a young new quarterback next year, his work in shaping Patrick Mahomes speaks for itself.
This is a less flashy pick, but could be an absolute home run for the Panthers. The Eagles’ offensive coordinator, Shane Steichen, has this team absolutely humming. Not only is Philadelphia the only undefeated team in the league, but this offense has Jalen Hurts looking like a true MVP candidate, when some thought he was a draft day reach.
The Eagles made the playoff last year, with head coach Nick Sirianni calling the plays with help from Steichen. The fact that Sirianni has admitted to stepping back from play calling speaks highly of Steichen, because they seem to be particularly confusing to defenses in 2022. Taking control of a team and offense that needs a lot of help could be a trap for a young coordinator, but through just two years, Steichen has proven he might deserve a shot.
Here is the ultimate pipe dream hire for the Carolina Panthers; their old NFC South-rival head coach Sean Payton, who won a Super Bowl with the Saints, and had New Orleans relevant for the better part of two decades.
The benefits of hiring Payton are glaring and obvious. He knows the NFC South inside and out, he has a Super Bowl pedigree, he is an offensive head coach that knows what it’s like to rebuild an entire unit with just a few key pieces. Payton would certainly demand a high price to come back to coaching, but owner David Tepper is not afraid to shell out that kind of money. If the Cowboys decide to keep Mike McCarthy, the Panthers need to make their move; aggressively and soon.
Stay tuned for more breaking NFL content, including preseason moves, contract updates and more news from every team.
Featured image courtesy of David Eulitt/Getty Images
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