Scott Fitterer‘s tenure as general manager of the Panthers came to an end this winter, but the veteran executive has lined up a new gig for the 2024 campaign. Fitterer is being hired by the Commanders as a personnel executive, as first reported by Ben Standig of The Athletic. 
Fitterer began his NFL front office career with the Giants before a lengthy tenure in Seattle’s organization. He joined the Seahawks in 2001 as an area scout and spent the next two decades working his way up the ladder while spending time in the personnel department. After a single season as the team’s VP of football operations, Fitterer was hired as general manager of the Panthers.
The 50-year-old held that position for three years, but Carolina was unable to put together a run of success during that time. The team went 5-12 in 2021, and the following season saw Christian McCaffrey traded away as a sign of a rebuild. Fitterer’s most impactful decision was of course the trade with the Bears which allowed for the acquisition of the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft. That selection was used on Bryce Young, whom the franchise is banking on becoming a true franchise quarterback.
Young’s rookie campaign did not go according to plan, and head coach Frank Reich did not make it through his debut Panthers season. The latter was fired after a 1-10 start to the campaign, and increasing pressure emerged with respect to Fitterer’s job security. After Carolina finished out the season 2-15 (a record which did not yield the first overall pick in 2024, per the terms of the Young blockbuster) and failed to work out a long-term extension with edge rusher Brian Burns, it came as little surprise that Fitterer was dismissed.
The Panthers promoted from within by tapping Dan Morgan as Fitterer’s successor, and Dave Canales is in place as a first-time head coach. That pair will be tasked with overseeing Young’s development moving forward as Carolina attempts to rebound from the 14-37 record posted during Fitterer’s time at the helm. The latter will now turn his attention to the Commanders’ rebuilding efforts.
As expected, new Washington owner Josh Harris used his first campaign in charge to evaluate the team’s front office and coaching staff. Ron Rivera was fired after the end of the regular season and Martin Mayhew was replaced by Adam Peters as general manager. Mayhew is still in the organization, one which has undergone considerable turnover at a number of positions since Peters’ hire. Fitterer will have a voice in Commanders decisions – including those affecting the scouting department, ESPN’s John Keim adds – moving forward as he aims to rebuild his GM stock.
He has a black eye resume, but I think most of the non-moves and bad moves were directed by Tepper; not his decisions. It would make for an interesting interview!
That’s the hope. There’s also the non trade of Burns that’s perhaps an even bigger black eye. Certainly up there
My point was all major (and bad) decisions made while Scott was GM was decided Tepper.
Who wouldn’t trade for 2 1st’s + other picks and then not sign the player? Not a competent GM. Maybe this guy is a bum, but my guess is it’s Tepper that’s the issue. I don’t expect much from the new GM/HC combo. Nothing against them but it’s hard to win when your boss wants to lose.
Agreed.
Success has to be a major factor in hiring. This is a bad hire!
It’s not like they hired him to be GM. Most failed GMs are at least good at *something*, which is why they got hired in the first place. Just because someone didn’t have a good run as a GM doesn’t mean they can’t contribute as one of many people in a front office.
NFL front office staffs seem absurdly bloated but this is probably because the people at the top all want a roster of fall guys to blame when the ship starts to sink.
If that were true, there wouldn’t be enough employees to go around
Poles is already changing his team designation on his Rolodex.
Further proof that once you have a job in the NFL, you have a job for life. The NFL was in to recycling way before everyone else.
Recycling and nepotism.