Russ Grimm Among Candidates To Replace John Fox As Carolina Panthers Head Coach

John Fox’s tenure in Carolina as Panthers head coach will end along with the 2010 regular season in a few weeks, and the Panthers will likely waste no time in finding a replacement.

According to the Gaston Gazette, Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach and offensive line coach Russ Grimm could be near the top of their list.

Grimm was inducted into the Hall of Fame this year and was a member of the 1980’s All-Decade Team with four consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1983-86. He won three Super Bowls as a player and one as a coach, Super Bowl XL with the Pittsburgh Steelers under Bill Cowher.

Cowher is likely at the top of the Panthers’ list to replace Fox, but Grimm might be a more realistic option.

Grimm has had success as an offensive line coach in Arizona. In 2007, the Cardinals offensive line ranked sixth in the NFL, allowing only 24 sacks, the lowest total for the team since 1978 (22).

He is in his 20th season as an NFL assistant after an 11-year career as an offensive guard with the Washington Redskins.

It has not been a banner year for the Cardinals or for Grimm in 2010, as they rank 28th in the league in rushing and have allowed 40 sacks.

Additionally, Grimm's son, Cody, is a safety for the Panthers' division rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Grimm took the Carolina job, he would face his son twice a year, at least.

Fact is, the Carolina coaching vacancy is not as coveted as some other jobs that may open up this offseason, such as the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins.

Hot seats are abound in the NFL, and the Panthers are at the bottom of most coaches’ lists. The Panthers are more likely to land an assistant looking for a shot rather than a big-name head coach.

With three weeks left in the John Fox era, the Panthers are on the prowl for a new leader.

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