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Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Dave Canales To Interview With Panthers On Thursday

Originally posted on PewterReport.com | By Scott Reynolds | Last updated 1/18/24

Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales traditionally speaks with the Tampa Bay media each Thursday during his press conference at the team facility. But Canales will also be speaking with the Carolina Panthers about their vacant head coaching position on Thursday during a Zoom interview.

Fresh off scoring 30 of the team’s 32 points in Monday night’s Wild Card win over Philadelphia, Canales spoke last week about the opportunity to interview with the Panthers.

“It is surreal to me, and I’m really grateful because I honestly can’t do this without the guys in this building,” Canales said last Thursday. “Without the talent that we have on offense, an amazing staff that have worked their tails off to put us in this situation to win the division. When I think about it, the coordinator gets all the heat and you all the praise, well it’s really a bigger story than that.”

Canales certainly didn’t lose his focus over the prospects of interviewing the Carolina as he called perhaps his best game of the year as Tampa Bay rolled up nearly 500 yards of offense against Philadelphia.

“I’m really grateful,” Canales continued. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time so I have some stuff prepared, but I really haven’t had time to look at that this week. We have a formidable opponent coming like the Eagles that are coming in here, so it’s going to require all of us, all of me to be locked in.

“We’ll play Monday night and we’ll take it from there. At some point I’ll have a conversation with them, and I’ll be really excited and fired up to say the same things I’m talking about here – about building a team that plays championship-type football from the minute you get there.”

Dave Canales Is One Of 10 Known Carolina Candidates

Since firing head coach Frank Reich during the season, the Panthers have interviewed a number of candidates, including interviews with two internal candidates, interim head coach Chris Tabor and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Carolina is casting a wide net and taking its time during the head coaching search process.

Last week, the Panthers conducted interviews with Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith. Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris interviewed on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Carolina will interview Dave Canales and Brian Callahan, and Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will interview with the Panthers on Friday prior to Sunday’s Divisional playoff game against Tampa Bay.

Dave Canales Wants To Stay In Tampa Bay

While the 42-year old offensive coordinator has the charisma and leadership style to be a very effective head coach in time, Dave Canales knows that he needs some more seasoning as a play-caller and more experience at his elevated position before taking on the task of leading an entire team.

Last Thursday, Canales said that he wants to stay in Tampa Bay.

“I’d love to be in Tampa for a long time,” Canales volunteered during last Thursday’s press conference. “I know whatever our plans are for the future, Baker has been unbelievable. For whatever job I may get credited for – Baker, the belief in himself, the ability to bring a team together to grow, to continue to own his growth and own his mistakes. I just love that kind of guy. I love being around him.”

Panthers Also Targeting Assistant GM Mike Greenberg

Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales is not the only division rival that Carolina may be interested in poaching. The Panthers interviewed Bucs assistant general manager Mike Greenberg last Saturday in person in Carolina. Losing Greenberg, who is Tampa Bay’s chief strategist, capologist and the right-hand man to general manager Jason Licht, would be a big blow to the Bucs organization should that happen.

This article first appeared on Pewter Report and was syndicated with permission.

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