Falcons' Rival Panthers To Hire Buccaneers' Dave Canales As New Coach
While the Atlanta Falcons continue their extensive search for a new coach, the rest of the NFC South is already having an eventful Thursday thanks to a rare in-division hire.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Carolina Panthers are closing in on hiring Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales as their new coach.
Dave Canales, the Carolina Panthers' next head coach.
© Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Panthers hiring Canales came as somewhat of a surprise, as they were the only team to interview him for a head-coaching opportunity. Looking at his body of work, though, it makes sense why Carolina had interest.
In his lone year in Tampa Bay, Canales, 42, helped the Buccaneers finish 9-8 and win a surprising NFC South title. He received especially high praise for his work with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who threw for a career-best 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns after two subpar seasons and earned a spot as a Comeback Player of the Year finalist.
With Mayfield flaming out in Carolina a year earlier, Canales' work with the quarterback must've caught the Panthers' attention in hopes he can produce similar results with 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young.
Before joining the Buccaneers' Canales was a longtime assistant coach with the Seattle Seahawks under Pete Carroll.
He was instrumental in Geno Smith's resurgent 2022 season, which earned Smith the Comeback Player of the Year award and Canales a chance at an offensive coordinator job. A year later, and Canales has risen the ranks to now be the leader of a franchise.
With the Panthers' coaching search finalized, attention in the NFC South now shifts to who the Falcons will choose to lead their team.
