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Kellen Moore

2023 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

February 28th, 2023 at 2:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the head coaching carousel spun for several weeks, many teams made coordinator changes as well. Teams seeking new head coaches are conducting OC and DC searches, and a handful of other teams that did not make HC changes are also searching for top assistants.

This is a big year for offensive coordinator hires, with nearly half the league making changes. Here are the teams searching for new OCs and DCs. As new searches emerge, they will be added to the list.

Updated 3-1-23 (3:31pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals 

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Greg Roman)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Ben McAdoo)

  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach, (Rams): Hired
  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Kellen Moore)

  • Brian Angelichio, tight ends coach (Vikings): Interviewed 2/2
  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed
  • Jeff Nixon, running backs coach (Panthers): Interviewed
  • Brian Schottenheimer, offensive consultant (Cowboys): Hired

Denver Broncos (Out: Justin Outten)

Houston Texans (Out: Pep Hamilton)

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Parks Frazier)

  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Tee Martin, wide receivers coach (Ravens): Interview requested

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Matt Nagy, quarterbacks coach (Chiefs): Hired

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Joe Lombardi)

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Liam Coen)

New York Jets (Out: Mike LaFleur)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Shane Steichen)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Byron Leftwich)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Todd Downing)

Washington Commanders (Out: Scott Turner)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Vance Joseph)

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dean Pees)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Leslie Frazier)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Al Holcomb)

  • Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Interviewed
  • Marquand Manuel, safeties coach (Jets): Interviewed
  • Kris Richard, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans 

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Renaldo Hill)

  • Derrick Ansley, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Promoted
  • Doug Belk, defensive coordinator (Houston): Interviewed
  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Interviewed

Miami Dolphins (Out: Josh Boyer)

Minnesota Vikings (Out: Ed Donatell)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Ryan Nielsen, Kris Richard)

  • Joe Woods, former defensive coordinator (Browns): Hired

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Jonathan Gannon)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: DeMeco Ryans)

  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): On radar
  • Chris Harris, defensive backs coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/31
  • Kris Kocurek, defensive line coach (49ers): On radar
  • Steve Wilks, former interim head coach (Panthers): Hired

Cowboys Announce Remaining Coaching Staff Moves

February 24th, 2023 at 9:13pm CST by Ely Allen

In an offseason that threatened to take away both coordinators, the Cowboys have finalized their coaching staff for the 2023 season. We’ve reported on every staff change up to this point, but a few final updates were declared along with the final announcement.

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn chose to remain in his current role with the Cowboys, withdrawing his name from consideration for multiple head coaching jobs around the NFL. With the departure of Kellen Moore to Los Angeles, the Cowboys promoted Brian Schottenheimer to offensive coordinator and made a few resulting staff changes.

The biggest announcement came for Jeff Blasko, who served last season for the Cowboys as assistant offensive line coach. Blasko will be taking over for Skip Peete, who was not renewed after last season, as the Cowboys running backs coach. Although running back Tony Pollard faces free agency and Ezekiel Elliott remains under contract, it is widely believed that Blasko will definitely be coaching Pollard and only possibly Elliott next season. Blasko has a history coaching offensive lines and has plenty of experience under head coach Mike McCarthy. This will be Blasko’s first opportunity working with running backs as a position coach in the NFL.

Another staffer from last year is receiving a promotion to position coach. Last year’s coaching assistant Scott Tolzien has been promoted to quarterbacks coach. The former NFL passer has moved quickly up the ranks of coaching. His first coaching role was in 2019 at Wisconsin, where he served as an analyst for the Badgers. He spent the next three years in his previous role with the Cowboys before receiving this new opportunity.

A defensive quality control coach last year for the Cowboys, Cannon Matthews is the next coaching assistant to receive a promotion, earning the assistant defensive backs coach job. Additionally, Ryan Feder switched sides of the coaching staff this offseason. After working with the defensive staff last year as a quality control and analytics coach, Feder will work in the position of game management and offensive assistant coach.

Finally, the addition of two other assistants rounds out the staff. Evan Harrington has joined the staff as an offensive assistant. Lastly, Pete Ohnegian has been hired in the role of quality control and defensive assistant. After an offseason that threatened much more change, the Cowboys have rounded out their staff with plenty of time to prepare for the 2023 season.

2023 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

February 14th, 2023 at 1:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Last year, 10 NFL teams hired new head coaches. Following the Panthers, Broncos and Texans’ hires, this year’s vacancy count sits at two. Last year’s Saints and Buccaneers moves, however, showed these job openings can emerge at unexpected points.

Listed below are the head coaching candidates that have been linked to each of the teams with vacancies, along with their current status. If other teams decide to make head coaching changes, they’ll be added to this list. Here is the current breakdown:

Updated 2-14-23 (1:30pm CT)

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Chargers Hire Kellen Moore As OC

January 30th, 2023 at 10:51am CST by Adam La Rose

To little surprise, Kellen Moore is set to quickly move on to his next NFL opportunity. The former Cowboys offensive coordinator is expected to join the Chargers to fulfil the same role (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). A team announcement has confirmed the news.

The 33-year-old had one year remaining on his contract with Dallas, but he and the team mutually parted ways yesterday. That brought an end to his four-year tenure at the helm of the Cowboys’ offense, one in which he established himself as a highly-regarded young mind on that side of the ball. Moore had received head coaching interest in recent hiring cycles, and was a top OC candidate once he hit the open market.

In the immediate aftermath of his departure, it was reported that the Buccaneers had interest in interviewing him. Not long after, it came out that the Chargers were seeking a meeting with Moore, leading to the expectation that he would be able to quickly find his next coaching gig. With a deal now in place, per multiple reports, the former quarterback can turn his attention to one of the league’s top collection of offensive players.

Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo tweets that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones let Moore out of his contract, allowing him to move on with the understanding that a new opportunity would not be hard to come by. That makes it little surprise that he has immediately landed in a new home, one where he will face significant expectations right away. The Chargers boast one of the league’s top young passers in Justin Herbert, a highly-acclaimed pair of wideouts in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and a high-end dual threat running back in Austin Ekeler.

Recent improvements made along the offensive line add further to the belief that the team’s success of 2022 will be replicated, at a minimum. Los Angeles had the ninth-ranked total offense in 2022 under Joe Lombardi, and saw high-end production in the passing game in particular. A lack of balance for the unit – highlighted especially in the second half of the team’s playoff meltdown against the Jaguars – led to speculation that Lombardi could be on the hot seat, however. In a move signalling that Staley will be safe for at least the 2023 campaign, the former was fired earlier this month.

Moore will step in as his replacement as a play-caller, and mark an end to a sizeable search process the team conducted. The fact that Moore has so quickly been brought onboard speaks to how highly he is thought of by the team’s staff and front office. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are in the early stages of their search for Moore’s replacement, though it has been reported that head coach Mike McCarthy will call plays regardless of who is ultimately brought in.

Here is a final breakdown of the Chargers’ OC search:

Chargers Expected To Interview Kellen Moore For OC Vacancy

January 29th, 2023 at 8:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

Kellen Moore is out as Dallas’ offensive coordinator, but he may not be out of work for long. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Chargers had already received permission to interview Moore for their OC vacancy, and the parties are expected to meet soon (Twitter link).

Moore’s coaching career began in Dallas, the site of his playing days as a quarterback as well. He oversaw Dallas’ offense for the past four years, a span which included high-end performances in the regular season in three of those campaigns. Underwhelming showings in the playoffs, however, led to increased speculation that he would be let go despite being under contract for 2023.

With that having taken place, the 33-year-old figures to be on the radar for an immediate move to another OC position. There are plenty of openings around the league at the moment, and his work with the Cowboys should make him a highly sought-after candidate. It was reported in the immediate aftermath of his departure that the Buccaneers would be interested in Moore, as they look for a reset on offense while replacing Byron Leftwich.

The Chargers’ vacancy quickly became one of note after Joe Lombardi was dismissed. The team put up respectable numbers during his two-year tenure in Los Angeles, but it ultimately comes as little surprise that Brandon Staley‘s staff will have a new play-caller on offense in 2023, a season in which they will look to rebound from a massive playoff collapse.

The Rams, meanwhile, have tapped Mike LaFleur as their new OC, a hiring which was widely expected to take place before it became official. However, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News notes that the NFC’s Los Angeles franchise had interest in Moore as well (Twitter link). The latter is likely set to be busy in the immediate future as he looks for his next NFL opportunity.

Here is an updated look at the Chargers’ OC search:

Cowboys Part Ways With OC Kellen Moore

January 29th, 2023 at 5:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

7:05pm: David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports that McCarthy will indeed call plays on offense in 2023, a season in which he will find himself increasingly on the hot seat.

5:56pm: The Cowboys were able to once again retain one of their key coordinators for the 2023 season, but the same will not hold true on the offensive side of the ball. Dallas has mutually parted ways with OC Kellen Moore, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). A team announcement has confirmed the news.

Moore, 33, joined the Cowboys in 2018 as the team’s quarterbacks coach. One year later, he was promoted to the role of OC, which he held until now. Regarded as one of the league’s top up-and-coming minds on that side of the ball, the move was seen with optimism especially given the promise shown by Dallas’ nucleus led by Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. The unit’s performance under Moore has led to mixed results.

Dallas had the No. 1 total offense in the league in 2019, a feat which they repeated in 2021. In terms of scoring, the Cowboys led the NFL that season, and ranked in the top six two other times. The lone campaign in which middling numbers can be seen was 2020, during which Prescott was limited to only five games played and the season was essentially deemed a write-off. Given those figures, Moore had become a highly-regarded coordinator receiving interest from outside teams for potential head coaching positions.

On the other hand, much of the blame for Dallas’ continued postseason shortcomings has been laid at Moore’s feet. The Cowboys were eliminated by the 49ers for the second consecutive year last week, a result marked in large part by Dallas’ inability to replicate their regular season scoring success. With Moore at the helm, this past season also saw Prescott lead the league with 15 regular season interceptions despite missing five games; he threw two crucial picks in the team’s divisional loss to San Francisco as well.

That has led to the expectation that Dallas will seek upgrades at the wide receiver position in particular, with their running back spot facing plenty of uncertainty as well. Regardless of which players are retained or replaced, the team will have a new play-caller in place for 2023. Some have speculated that head coach Mike McCarthy could take on that responsibility, one he held during his OC days and much of his tenure as the Packers’ bench boss.

As for Moore, he may not be unemployed for long. Pelissero’s colleague Ian Rapoport tweets that the Buccaneers are expected to have “significant interest” in adding him as their new OC. Tampa Bay is searching for a Byron Leftwich replacement, after he was fired following a very disappointing season on offense for the NFC South champions.

The Cowboys will have both McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn on the sidelines once again in 2023, which will lead to expectations remaining high for the team. Before the new season kicks off, however, they will need to navigate the sizeable OC market which has taken shape this year around the league.

Panthers Hire Frank Reich As Head Coach

January 26th, 2023 at 1:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers will make this year’s first head coaching hire. They have decided on Frank Reich, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).

Reich joined interim coach Steve Wilks as Carolina’s finalists. A quarterback on the Panthers’ inaugural 1995 squad, Reich will have a second head coaching opportunity following a midseason Colts dismissal. The Panthers have announced the hire. Following Matt Rhule‘s seven-year contract, Joe Person of The Athletic notes this is a four-year agreement (Twitter link).

Carolina had been zeroing in on offense-oriented coaches for a while, but Wilks’ performance as interim HC interfered with that plan. Wilks, who went 6-6 in his chance as the Panthers’ interim boss, joined Reich in interviewing twice for the position. The latter’s experience as a play-caller won out. Reich also interviewed for the Cardinals’ HC post, and a few teams wanted to speak with him about their offensive coordinator positions. But Reich said shortly after his Indianapolis exit he wanted a second chance as a head coach.

Reich zoomed onto the HC radar in 2018, after he played a central role in helping the Eagles win Super Bowl LII after losing their starting quarterback. Nick Foles‘ virtuoso finish to the 2017 season led to Reich becoming the Colts’ head coach, though he was Indy’s second choice following Josh McDaniels‘ infamous about-face. Reich ended up being a solid choice for the team, coaching two Colts squads to playoff berths.

The 2018 Colts edition did not face high expectations, but Reich led a turnaround that ended in the divisional round. Andrew Luck bounced back with a 39-touchdown pass season under Reich, but another run of injury trouble during the 2019 offseason led the standout passer to announce his retirement just before the season. Reich navigated that setback for a bit, reuniting with ex-Chargers pupil Philip Rivers in 2020, but the Colts are still dealing with the fallout from Luck’s retirement. After the 2020 playoff berth preceded Rivers’ retirement, the wheels gradually fell off for the Colts. Their 9-8 2021 season — ending with an ugly Week 18 loss to the two-touchdown underdog Jaguars — prompted Jim Irsay to insist on sweeping changes, and that process soon led to Reich’s firing.

Reich, 61, had advocated for Carson Wentz in 2021, and the Colts bypassed a draft move to reunite their HC with his ex-Eagles charge. Wentz had moments in 2021 and ranked in the top 10 in QBR, throwing 27 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions. Wentz was inconsistent down the stretch that year, and after a COVID-19 contraction, he struggled mightily in the Colts’ final two games — losses that knocked them out of the playoff race. Irsay demanded Wentz be traded, leading to an Irsay-endorsed Matt Ryan partnership. Ryan’s woes in his age-37 season led to Irsay demanding Reich bench him for former sixth-round pick Sam Ehlinger. This run of owner-mandated moves eventually led to Reich being canned in November — not long after the Panthers axed Rhule. Irsay later said he reluctantly extended Reich in 2021, putting a bow on an eventful 2022 for the Colts owner.

A longtime Bills backup who led the greatest comeback in playoff history — a 32-point rally past the Oilers in the 1992 wild-card round — Reich played the 1995 season with the Panthers. Arriving in Carolina as a free agent in ’95, Reich took the first snap in team history. He moved into coaching in the mid-2000s and began his rise as the Chargers’ OC under Mike McCoy nearly a decade later. Reich will come full circle with the Panthers, who recently hired one of his daughters to work in their marketing department, per Person. Frank’s brother, Joe, has also been the head coach at Charlotte-area Wingate University for 22 years.

Wilks has deeper ties to the Panthers. He is a Charlotte native who coached in Carolina as a Ron Rivera assistant and then an interim HC. Players advocated for Wilks, who did one of the better jobs in interim coaching history last season. With Reich beating him out for the full-time gig, Wilks intends to coach elsewhere in 2023, Pelissero tweets.

The Panthers were also quite impressed with Cowboys OC Kellen Moore, Rapoport tweets, but they will go with experience in Reich. Moore, 33, just finished his fourth season as Dallas’ play-caller and interviewed over a two-day period with Carolina this week. Although David Tepper met with Sean Payton this week, a trade between two NFC South franchises was never likely.

Tepper’ssecond hire will be a first for the Panthers, who have never seen their head coach double as their offensive play-caller. The Panthers have either employed defensive-minded leaders (Dom Capers, George Seifert, John Fox, Rivera) or a CEO-type HC (Rhule). Tepper’s seven-year, $62MM Rhule contract backfired, leading the owner to prioritize NFL experience this time around.

Steve Wilks, Frank Reich Set For Second Panthers HC Interviews

January 25th, 2023 at 9:05am CST by Sam Robinson

This year’s methodically paced NFL head coaching search will now produce second interviews for the Panthers’ top staff position. Steve Wilks and Frank Reich are among the finalists.

The Carolina interim HC and the former Colts HC are the first known finalists for the full-time gig and will each go through second interviews Wednesday, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com note (Twitter links). Wilks gained steam throughout his interim run, while Reich has interviewed with both the Panthers and Cardinals.

Carolina is believed to be targeting experience with this year’s hire, which certainly makes sense after its Matt Rhule whiff, but Rapoport adds (via Twitter) Cowboys OC Kellen Moore impressed Panthers brass during his first interview. It would not surprise to see Moore, then, book a second interview. But he does not bring the experience Reich and Wilks do.

Although Wilks generated extensive support to keep the gig, the Panthers have already begun interviewing defensive coordinator candidates. They have spoken with Vic Fangio and requested interviews with Kris Richard and Marquand Manuel. Wilks’ background is on the defensive side, and Al Holcomb served as Carolina’s interim DC in the wake of the Phil Snow firing. The Panthers already taking steps to interview defensive bosses — and not move toward addressing its OC — points to the team making post-Wilks plans. Carolina has long been connected to an offense-oriented hire, but Wilks going 6-6 in his interim chance and not receiving strong consideration would likely have gone over poorly among Panthers players.

Reich stands to have options — either as a head coach or coordinator — in the coming days and weeks. Should he strike out on securing a second head coaching opportunity this year, teams have been connected to the five-year Colts coach for OC openings. The Chargers, Jets and Rams have been connected to Reich in some capacity. Both the Bolts and Jets gigs come with play-calling responsibilities, but Reich said soon after his Colts dismissal he wanted to stay on the HC level. The Panthers have already discussed staff options with Reich, per CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, and SI.com’s Albert Breer notes the veteran play-caller has gained steam throughout this process (Twitter links).

This component may not matter too much as the team looks to regain its footing after the seven-year Rhule deal backfired, but both Wilks and Reich have ties to the Charlotte area. Wilks grew up in the city, while Reich spent the 1995 season with the Panthers’ inaugural edition. Reich’s brother also is the head coach at Wingate, a college in the area.

Panthers To Interview Frank Reich, Request Kellen Moore Meeting

January 20th, 2023 at 2:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 20: As is the case with their Sean Payton interview, the Panthers’ meeting with Moore will not take place as planned. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes that it has been postponed, along with those of a number of other candidates (Twitter link). In Moore’s case, the Cowboys’ immediate playoff future could affect his availability for scheduling purposes, but the Panthers remain interested in the young OC.

JANUARY 11, 9:44am: Continuing a focus on offensive-minded candidates, the Panthers have sent out an interview request to Cowboys OC Kellen Moore, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. Moore was on the 2022 coaching carousel, interviewing with the Broncos, Dolphins, Jaguars and Vikings. With the Cowboys in the playoffs again, it is unsurprising Moore is back in the mix.

Moore, 33, has been an NFL play-caller since he was 30. The Cowboys promoted him to OC during Jason Garrett‘s tenure, and Mike McCarthy has kept him on in the role for three years. After Dallas led the NFL in points and yards last season, the team ranked fourth (scoring) and 11th (total offense) this year. Of course, a chunk of that came with backup quarterback Cooper Rush at the helm. Dallas’ performance during Rush’s fill-in starts should reflect well on Moore. Both Cowboys coordinators are in the mix for HC jobs; the Broncos have Dan Quinn back on their radar.

JANUARY 11, 9:08am: Frank Reich‘s first interview on this year’s HC carousel will take place today. The Panthers are bringing in the former Colts leader for a Wednesday meeting, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Rumored to be on Carolina’s docket for a few days, this Reich meeting will follow summits with Jim Caldwell and interim HC Steve Wilks. The Panthers are not planning to go through an expansive search, so Reich being part of it certainly indicates the Panthers are serious about a second-chance stint.

Reich has some history with the organization. During the Panthers’ inaugural season (1995), Reich was on the team as Kerry Collins‘ backup. The longtime Bills QB2 spent one season with the Panthers, though his brother (Joe Reich) has been the head coach at Division II Wingate — a Charlotte-area school — for over 20 years (h/t The Athletic’s Zak Keefer).

[RELATED: Reich On Rams’ OC Radar]

Because the Colts fired Reich, he does not have any restrictions as to when he can meet with teams for interviews. Coaches attached to wild-card teams must wait until at least three days after their team’s respective first-round game to interview. The Panthers are checking off the available boxes early, meeting with two unattached coaches and their popular interim leader this week. Reich, 61, has indicated he wants a second HC opportunity and would prefer to step back into such a role next season.

Hired after the 2018 Josh McDaniels snafu, Reich went 40-33-1 with the Colts. Although the 2018 Indianapolis squad was viewed as one amid a rebuild, Reich directed the team to a late-season surge that ended in the divisional round. Andrew Luck‘s retirement gutted the franchise, but Reich’s reunion with Philip Rivers produced another playoff berth in 2020. Reich’s push for a Carson Wentz reunion in 2021, however, did not work out as well. And the team’s Matt Ryan move helped lead to Reich’s ouster midway through this season. Reich, however, is a respected offensive coach who called plays throughout his Colts tenure and contributed significantly to the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII-winning season.

Beyond Wilks, the Panthers are focusing on offense-oriented candidates. Reich joins Caldwell, Giants OC Mike Kafka, Lions OC Ben Johnson, Bills OC Ken Dorsey and Eagles OC Shane Steichen in receiving interview requests from the team. No external defensive coaches are on Carolina’s interview docket, which certainly paints a clear picture of what the Panthers are targeting.

Panthers’ Post-Rhule Fallout: Termination, Replacement, Trades

October 10th, 2022 at 10:04pm CST by Ely Allen

The NFL news circuit was set ablaze today when news broke of the firings of Panthers head coach Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow. The termination of Rhule was not necessarily a surprise, as he’s been firmly on the hot seat all year and the possibility of firing Rhule had been discussed “well before” today, according to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, but it did create a newsworthy fallout of information that is of interest to those who follow the sport.

Many have talked about the contract implications of Rhule’s termination, alluding to the millions of dollars still remaining on his contract. While it’s completely applicable to Rhule’s situation, it doesn’t sound like it is a concern to Carolina. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweeted out that “Carolina is on the hook for this season, but the salaries for the ensuing seasons are offset by what his future college job pays him.” Essentially, Rhule will absolutely get his guaranteed money, but the onus won’t be on Carolina to pay it. Whenever Rhule, who is presumed to be a top college coaching candidate for next year, gets another job, his salary from the new school will offset the amount the Panthers owe him.

It was also announced that Panthers defensive passing game coordinator & secondary coach Steve Wilks will sub in as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The defensive-minded former head coach of the Cardinals has apparently already begun to make the team his own. When Panthers owner David Tepper was asked why Snow was fired, he reportedly pointed the finger at Wilks, telling reporters to direct that question to the interim head coach, according to ESPN’s David Newton.

Here are a few more fallout items from today, starting with some ideas on Rhule’s replacement:

  • The biggest nugget to come out of today concerning Carolina is that, as most NFL executives expected Rhule to lose his job, many in league circles are expecting the Panthers to start dealing veteran assets in an attempt to accrue draft capital that might make the head coaching position more attractive, according to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post. The Panthers currently only hold four draft picks for 2023: first-, second-, fourth-, and fifth-round picks, supporting the idea that trading away veterans could improve their current situation. Trading away veterans with expensive contracts, such as star running back Christian McCaffrey or wide receiver Robbie Anderson, could prove troublesome, according to La Canfora, so the Panthers are reportedly willing to eat some of those salaries in order to facilitate moving those assets. Early reports claimed that the Bills have reached out about McCaffrey and that they did in the offseason, as well, according to Person, but Tom Pelissero of NFL Network clarified that, while every team will be calling about McCaffrey, the Panthers haven’t engaged in any trade talks yet. In addition to McCaffrey and Anderson, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports expects wide receiver D.J. Moore, defensive end Brian Burns, and defensive tackle Derrick Brown to be on the table.
  • Jeff Howe of The Athletic posed the question today of who might replace Rhule and offered quite a few suggestions. Howe started the list with Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn who took the Falcons to the Super Bowl as head coach in 2016. Next, he mentioned 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans. Ryans interviewed for the Vikings’ job this offseason and was expected to interview for the Raiders’, as well. The 38-year-old has rocketed up coaching boards since retiring as a player in 2015. Another name mentioned was Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon who also interviewed for the Vikings last year, in addition to the Texans and Broncos. Howe went into great detail on every candidate, seeming to list anybody who may be up for a head coaching job in the next few seasons. His list included former NFL head coaches including the retired Sean Payton, Steelers senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach Brian Flores, Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, and former Colts and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell, as well as the current interim head coach, Wilks. Other serious candidates Howe mentioned were Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, and Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. The list essentially devolved into an article about anybody who may make the jump to NFL head coach in the next few seasons, pointing out “wait and see” candidates such as Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith, Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell, and Giants defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale.
  • One interesting name that came out of today’s rumors was former Panthers All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly. Joe Person of The Athletic advised that an eye be kept on Kuechly, who remains close with Wilks and new defensive coordinator Al Holcomb, to come back in some capacity. After retiring from a pro scout position last year, Kuechly has been working as an analyst on Panthers radio broadcasts.
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