Panthers hiring Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales in head coaching stunner
The Panthers are poaching an NFC South rival for Frank Reich’s permanent replacement.
Carolina hired Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales as their next head coach, the team announced Thursday.
Canales, 42, was not considered among the favorites for the position, and many seemed surprised by the news.
“Dave’s background is rooted in success,” Panthers owner David Tepper said in a statement. “He has an innovative mindset and positive energy that connects well with players and staff. We are impressed with his ability to bring out the best in players.”
The Panthers fired first-year coach Reich midway through the season, in which the team finished an NFL-worst 2-15.
The team interviewed a number of notable names for the job, including Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, who was announced as the Titans’ head coach earlier this week.
Mike Vrabel was expected to interview with the team before the Canales news broke.
The Panthers confirmed last week they had conducted a virtual interview with Canales.
A former assistant strength coach for USC, Canales made the leap to the NFL in 2010, following former Trojans football coach Pete Carroll to the Seahawks.
He first served as the wide receivers coach from 2010-17 and became the quarterbacks coach a year later.
Canales also served as Seattle’s passing game coordinator.
“I’m excited to work alongside Dave again,” said Panthers president and general manager Dan Morgan, who worked with Canales in Seattle. “His background coaching multiple position groups has given him a great understanding of what it takes to build a successful team. His infectious personality resonates with players and everyone who comes in contact with him. I’m confident that will translate to the field.”
The Buccaneers hired Canales as their offensive coordinator in Feb. 2023, teaming him with former first-round pick Baker Mayfield, who signed a one-year deal with the team in free agency.
The former Browns quarterback — who was cut by the Panthers during the 2022 season and had a brief stint with the Rams later in the year — thrived in Tampa, throwing for a career-high 4,004 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions en route to an NFC South title.
The Buccaneers reached the divisional round of the playoffs and lost to the Lions last Sunday, 31-23.
Still, the Buccaneers offense finished in the bottom half of the league in points and yards per game this season.
Canales is now poised to work with last year’s first-overall pick, former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
Young has 11 touchdowns against 10 interceptions through 16 games this season.
