NFL Rumors: Execs Urge Panthers' David Tepper to Make Hires 'and Get out of the Way'

The Carolina Panthers finished the 2023 campaign with an NFL-worst 2-15 record and will now embark on an offseason that will see them search for a new head coach and general manager ahead of the 2024 season.

Panthers owner David Tepper purchased the team in 2018 and has fired three head coaches and two general managers in his tenure. Two of those three head coaches were fired in back-to-back seasons.

The Panthers fired Matt Rhule during the 2022 season and Frank Reich during the 2023 campaign.

Tepper will be the man in charge of making the hires again this offseason, but NFL executives "suggest Tepper needs to make the new hires and get out of the way," according to ESPN's David Newton.

ESPN's Adam Schefter (h/t Newton) previously reported that Tepper had hired a consulting firm to assist with the team's head coaching and general manager searches.

The Panthers haven't posted a winning season or made the playoffs since the 2017 campaign. Picking the right head coach and general manager is essential to a franchise's success, and Tepper will be hoping he doesn't make another mistake this winter.

Carolina has requested interviews with nine head coaching candidates, per the team's website. Those candidates include:

• Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson
• Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik
• Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan
• Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn
• Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald
• Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith
• Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris
• Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales

The Panthers have also requested interviews with eight general manager candidates, per the team's website, including:

• New York Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown
• Buccaneers assistant GM Mike Greenberg
  
• Kansas City Chiefs vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis
  
• Philadelphia Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby
  
• New Orleans Saints assistant GM Khai Harley
  
• Ravens vice president of football administration Nick Matteo
  
• Indianapolis Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds
  
• Las Vegas Raiders interim GM Champ Kelly

With the search including numerous candidates for each job, it could be some time before a hire is made.