Dave Canales. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers make surprising choice for new head coach

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated Jan 25, 2024 12:37 PM ET

The Carolina Panthers have hired a new head coach, and you may be surprised to hear who got the job.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales has agreed to a deal to become the new head coach of the Panthers. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media was the first to report the news.

A surprise! The #Panthers are closing in on a hire: It’s #Bucs OC Dave Canales as their new head coach, sources say. A first-time coordinator, his work in Tampa this year — especially with Baker Mayfield — stood out.

On to Bryce Young. pic.twitter.com/NEIGnt36O3

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 25, 2024

Canales is coming off his first and only season as an offensive coordinator. The Buccaneers hired the 42-year-old as OC after he spent more than a decade as an offensive assistant with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Bucs exceeded expectations across the board this season after losing Tom Brady and firing former OC Byron Leftwich. Baker Mayfield had an outstanding year after Tampa Bay was essentially the only team willing to allow him to start. The work Canales did with Mayfield likely impressed the Panthers, who are hoping the coach can help develop Bryce Young.

The Panthers interviewed 11 candidates and were supposed to make it an even dozen with a former Coach of the Year on Thursday. They instead opted for an inexperienced candidate and offered the job to Canales.

Carolina went 2-15 this past season and fired former head coach Frank Reich in his first year on the job. They are hoping for much better results with Canales.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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