Firing Scott Fitterer nearly two months after the historically early Frank Reich ouster, the Panthers still have one of their top holdovers in their plans.
Rumored to be in the mix to move up the ladder, assistant GM Dan Morgan will indeed book an interview, ESPN.com’s David Newton tweets. Morgan has received support internally, and Newton adds many around the NFL view the former Panthers linebacker as ready to become a GM. He will have his chance to make a case soon.
Morgan, 45, has been in place as Carolina’s assistant GM since 2021, when he returned to Charlotte after a stay in Buffalo. A first-round Panthers pick back in 2001, Morgan made 59 starts for the Panthers. Injuries intervened for the former Miami Hurricane, but he has found a niche in personnel. The Bills’ regime of ex-Panthers, Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott, hired Morgan in 2018. He spent three years as the team’s director of player personnel. Morgan also has a past with Fitterer, working in the Seahawks front office from 2010-17.
The Panthers may not, however, be ready to give Morgan the keys. But rumblings around the league have pointed to the team considering a setup in which Morgan pairs with a football ops-side hire, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. A co-GM setup is not especially realistic, but teams often have head coaches and GMs separately report to ownership. The Panthers could have a similar blueprint in mind.
Carolina extended interview opportunities to a few staffers on the operations side, as opposed to those who have come up through scouting, this week. The team wants to interview Chiefs VP of football operations Brandt Tilis for a second time, after meeting with him in 2021. Ravens VP of football administration Nick Matteo, Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby, Buccaneers assistant GM Mike Greenberg and Saints assistant GM Khai Harley — who has played a lead role in the team’s numerous restructures to complete complex paths to comply with the salary cap — fit this profile as well.
More than half of the Panthers’ interview requests have gone out to this genre of candidate. Despite ties to a failed regime, Morgan appears to have a legitimate shot to stick around in a more prominent role.
What’s the point of firing the GM if the rest of his staff sticks around. Morgan should be the last person considered for the job.
Tepper Tantrum should just be the GM/HC
Typical response from a struggling CEO. Add another layer of middle management.