Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule. Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers' Matt Rhule believes his rebuilding process is working, despite poor results

By Adam Stites | Last updated 12/26/21

The Carolina Panthers were eliminated from postseason contention Sunday with a resounding 32-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was a fifth consecutive loss for the Panthers and dropped head coach Matt Rhule's record with the team to 10-21.

Despite the lack of success and the most recent blowout loss, Rhule defended his rebuild of the Panthers in a postgame press conference.

Rhule: "I think it says a lot about the team that they're not quitting."
— Nick Carboni (@NickCarboniWCNC) December 26, 2021

Rhule, 46, was hired by the Panthers in 2020 after brief, but successful, tenures as head coach at Baylor University and Temple University. His time in Carolina has featured a revolving door of quarterbacks with Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Darnold, Cam Newton, and P.J. Walker all starting multiple games.

In the loss to the Buccaneers, Rhule made the unusual decision to rotate between Darnold and Newton throughout the game. Neither found much success and the Panthers failed to find the end zone.

Ron Rivera had a 76-63-1 record in nine years with the team and led the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance. He was fired during the 2019 season after a 5-7 start to the year.

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