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.
Can’t a college team and Rhule agree to a deal that pays him way below what they would otherwise pay him in order to stick the cost on Carolina?
Yep and of course colleges never pay under the table lol
If there’s actually off set language in his contract, I bet he’ll take a year or two off and do college football tv or something like that. No way he immediately goes back to the grind of being a college coach when he’d get paid the same amount of money to do nothing.
Dan Quinn lmao
I’d not look for a job! $40m not to work, fine by me.
Everyone of those replacement names is uninspiring. Therefore, take any of them. The Panthers are trash.
So who would you hire then? That list is literally all of the best coordinators in the league
I’m also curious: who would top your list? Please don’t say a re-tread.
Have you seen the jobs Ryans and Steichen have done? Have you seen all Morris has done since his first HC job at a young age? Who exactly would be an inspiring name to you? Are you one of these weird Gruden boosters?
This just in!
Brian Flores has filed suit against the Panthers for not hiring him as the Head Coach after receiving a text from Cam Newton asking him “How are you?”.
Flores is seeking unspecified damages and will also include the XFL in his suite.
More details to come.
Brian has had a major impact on the steelers defense.
especially with the linebackers, the way they are getting to the QB and showing a full understanding of positioning and role.
Flores gotta be tops on anyone’s list right now. Remember this is a guy who almost made the playoffs last year, and that is a tall feat that not many HC can boast
Is it just possible that Flores is a much better position coach than Head Coach? After all, “almost getting to the playoffs” and “major impact on the Steelers linebackers…they’re 1-4 after all and showing a full understanding of positioning and role” when he won’t have that same direct impact if he’s the HC doesn’t necessarily translate to success in the NFL……
He took the Dolphins from a scorched earth roster teardown tank job to their first consecutive winning seasons in two decades. His track record as a head coach is better than a whole lot of top candidates and guys who have HC jobs now.
Your opinion….too openly critical of his employers….your opinion of who might be available to be HC….fired by the guys who own the team…..owners talk…..
And many of them are idiots, at least when it comes to football.
no.
I was trolling..
steelers linebackers are atrocious.
Flores is worthless.
This just in. Presumably white guy mocks black guy that claims racist practices. Sure that will hold up well over time
Wow, trading McCaffrey to the Bills would be a great move for the Bills and their fans but would probably make his gal pal….Miss “I’d like a booty shot of my guy” take a s_i_ having to travel to Buffalo in December to watch her guy…..LOL!
Given what receivers cost in the trade market this offseason, Moore could command quite a haul. And I’d love to see what he would do playing with a good QB in a well designed offense.
Brown is also an intriguing change of scenery candidate. Sure liked him coming out of auburn.
He’s a good player, even if his pass rushing production always leaves something to be desired. A lot of teams could use him. The Browns don’t have enough draft capital to make that kind of move, but the Cowboys or Chargers could certainly use that kind of presence in the middle.
Moore has no ground to stand on right now because he isn’t trying to get a new deal and he doesn’t have a no trade clause.
What does that have to do with anything? I meant the word command like cost, not like it’s his choice.
They want to drop players and their pay. If a team will be willing to take all their salary it will be a easy deal. Moore isn’t AJ Brown plus he wants to go to a team with a QB. Panthers are terrible
He’s a good deal cheaper than Brown and he’s very good. They could trade him for a lot.
Only a no-name coach would take a job in Carolina, as they are years away from being competitive.