NFL Rumors: Panthers Owner David Tepper Expected to Fire GM Scott Fitterer

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper has already fired head coach Frank Reich and multiple assistants amid a 2-14 season, and now Scott Fitterer's tenure as the team's general manager appears to be coming to an end.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, "many now expect" that Fitterer will be let go. The third-year GM initially stayed aboard after Tepper fired Reich following a 1-10 start, but the owner could be opting for a clean slate heading into 2024.

Fitterer was named the Panthers' general manager in 2021 after serving in the Seattle Seahawks' organization for 20 years, rising to the vice president of football operations role in 2020. Carolina has gone 14-36 over the last three years, including a 2-14 mark this season.

This season has been nothing short of disastrous for the Panthers, who entered the season with great hopes after hiring a new head coach in Reich and engineering a trade with the Chicago Bears to move from No. 9 to No. 1 in the NFL draft to select Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young.

However, the Panthers have gone just 2-14 as the team struggles through its worst season since 2010. Young has not fared well, although one could argue he wasn't put in the best position to succeed either.

The defense has been hit with injuries and not performed up to preseason expectations. Carolina is ultimately bottom three in both scoring and points allowed, and that's led to a recipe for disaster.

The Panthers' issues ultimately start at the top with Tepper, whose ownership tenure has led to fans starting a petition for the NFL to remove him. The GM who decides to work for tenure will have their hands full with the team losing a host of assets (including what would have been the No. 1 overall draft pick, which Chicago now owns) in the Young trade.

For now, Tepper is reportedly "working with the consulting firm Sportsology, led by former Chelsea FC executive Mike Forde," to help guide his team's future. It doesn't appear to be a bright one right now, but perhaps new blood could guide this team to greater heights.