Report: Panthers clean house by firing trio of assistant coaches
Matt Rhule is still the head coach of the Carolina Panthers as of Tuesday morning. Some of his co-workers have reportedly been giving their pink slips, though.
The Panthers just wrapped up a 5-12 season, one that saw them finish in last place in the NFC South and with the third-worst record in the conference. The 2021 season started off with promise, as Carolina burst out to a 3-0 mark with wins over the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans.
The group then lost four in a row, recovered to win two out of three and move to 5-5, but dropped their final seven contests of the campaign.
For the second straight year, star running back Christian McCaffrey missed significant time with injury. He was limited to three games in 2020 and played in just seven games this season.
In his first year with the Panthers, Sam Darnold opened as the team's starting quarterback, but after a strong start to the season with five touchdown passes against three interceptions and at least 275 passing yards in the first four games, the former No. 3 overall pick scuffled. Darnold missed five games in November and December due to a shoulder injury, and upon his return, split snaps with fellow quarterbacks Cam Newton and P.J. Walker.
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