(Potential) Top 2026 HC Candidates

[Bear Hands]

With that list, it's Minter all day.

But I doubt he'd want to come here.

[strato]

I was trying to quote this from MHS and messed it all up  this editor sucks  

“My very UNPOPULAR opinion:  

First, I would want to know the locker room.  Have they turned on Canales?  If not, I would stay with him.  Here is why:

Switching coaches every year or two is not the answer to long term success.  We are chasing hope instead of building a program around a young coach.  There were not many applicants for this job and if you think they are suddenly dying to be here now, that MIGHT justify a coaching change

Canales has made some tough decisions (like benching Bryce), but his weaknesses (the team's weaknesses) have been in the areas in which we have neglected or sucked for years.  Who did we get for CMC?  Who made the trade with the Bears when we had no idea at the time who we wanted?  Who drafted Mingo, Marshall, XL, etc.?  Who signed a frequently-injured CB to the biggest contract in NFL history at the time for a CB? 

I look at the personnel decisions and the play calling.  Our edge players are injured and not that good when healthy. He played Johnson because he had nothing left.  Johnson was terrible Sunday.  He has nothing at LB and two starting OL are now out.  XL is pouting because he does not seem to have paid the price to be paid the price of a first round pick.  AT was sent packing.  Bryce's resurgence last year may have been Canales and not Bryce.

Evero still does not have the tools he needs to succeed--on the field or perhaps between his ears.  

If Canales fires Evero, he is probably doing the right thing.  Remember, we had a lot of money in dead cap when Canales took over.  Fitterer was the worst GM since Matt Millen in the NFL, and we have sucked recently in the first round of the draft (Bryce, XL) until this season.  

When the GM is trying to give the coach what he needs to be successful and you keep changing coaches, it is difficult.  

I think this--stay with Canales, but bring in a veteran DC.  Some argue that Canales needs to move on from Bryce, but this team is not set up to give him options.  Andy aint the answer.  We never seem to take the PS QB seriously--all eggs are in one basket.  Canales needs options.

This team needs to address the QB situation.  Bryce's best games are not Lombardi worthy, so move on.  He is not the Alpha a young coach needs on the field.  Give him options at QB, some LBs and a good coordinator on defense, and I think we could use another stud WR.  It is time to start drafting developmental OL and start grooming them to replace our aging OL.

This draft is solid at QB as it stands now.  We need to focus on drafting the right guy and signing a veteran backup who is not the starting QB's BFF.  Compete.  Heck, i have no problem doing what Cleveland did--draft a QB in round 1 and then another QB if one falls into day 3.  

I think we need stability and I am not confident any respectable coach comes to Carolina.  Canales is frustrated, but the front office has failed him, as have injuries, and a really bad draft a few years ago that brought them Bryce.  He was hired to fix Bryce--so I say neuter him so he does not sire any more 5'8" QBs.  

Canales is better that Rivera was--Canales just has so much less talent.  Rivera was coach of the year a few times because he had Cam Newton, but could never put two winning seasons together.  That is a crime.“

Good thoughts there man. I I agree with about all of that. 

You speak to the importance of having continuity. I am big on it as something that we have lacked that is stunting our growth. Constantly resetting the clock and taking the steps back that come with it. And here we are yet again - 21 games after saying we are really gonna commit to it this time, only to be bitten by the instant gratification bug because it isn’t paying off.  

in other news I probably don’t know enough about some of these candidates listed above but I don’t see much that excites me. Especially when I add Tepper to the picture.

Plus  there is a lot of season left that needs to play out still. 

Edited 2 hours ago by strato

[CarolinaLivin]

1 minute ago, strato said:

Good thoughts there man. I I agree with about all of that. 

You speak to the importance of having continuity. I am big on it as something that we have lacked that is stunting our growth. Constantly resetting the clock and taking the steps back that come with it. And here we are yet again - 21 games after saying we are really gonna commit to it this time, only to be bitten by the instant gratification bug because it isn’t paying off.  

in other news I probably don’t know enough about some of these candidates listed above but I don’t see much that excites me. Especially when I add Tepper to the picture.

Plus  there is a lot of season left that needs to play out still. 

I mean agreed. Plenty more games to playout to see Canales grow as a HC. Wanted to give everyone a list of what this hiring cycle looks like to help. Too early to make these decisions. Im sort of indifferent on Canales right now. Don’t hate him, don’t love him. Could we upgrade? Maybe. Could we downgrade? Absolutely. I think we’ll have more options this year as we aren’t likely gonna force Bryce on a HC and our roster, while still bad, isn’t as bad as it was last search. Regardless Tepper will have to pay top dollar. 

[strato]

11 minutes ago, strato said:

I was trying to quote this from MHS and messed it all up  this editor sucks  

“My very UNPOPULAR opinion:  

First, I would want to know the locker room.  Have they turned on Canales?  If not, I would stay with him.  Here is why:

Switching coaches every year or two is not the answer to long term success.  We are chasing hope instead of building a program around a young coach.  There were not many applicants for this job and if you think they are suddenly dying to be here now, that MIGHT justify a coaching change

Canales has made some tough decisions (like benching Bryce), but his weaknesses (the team's weaknesses) have been in the areas in which we have neglected or sucked for years.  Who did we get for CMC?  Who made the trade with the Bears when we had no idea at the time who we wanted?  Who drafted Mingo, Marshall, XL, etc.?  Who signed a frequently-injured CB to the biggest contract in NFL history at the time for a CB? 

I look at the personnel decisions and the play calling.  Our edge players are injured and not that good when healthy. He played Johnson because he had nothing left.  Johnson was terrible Sunday.  He has nothing at LB and two starting OL are now out.  XL is pouting because he does not seem to have paid the price to be paid the price of a first round pick.  AT was sent packing.  Bryce's resurgence last year may have been Canales and not Bryce.

Evero still does not have the tools he needs to succeed--on the field or perhaps between his ears.  

If Canales fires Evero, he is probably doing the right thing.  Remember, we had a lot of money in dead cap when Canales took over.  Fitterer was the worst GM since Matt Millen in the NFL, and we have sucked recently in the first round of the draft (Bryce, XL) until this season.  

When the GM is trying to give the coach what he needs to be successful and you keep changing coaches, it is difficult.  

I think this--stay with Canales, but bring in a veteran DC.  Some argue that Canales needs to move on from Bryce, but this team is not set up to give him options.  Andy aint the answer.  We never seem to take the PS QB seriously--all eggs are in one basket.  Canales needs options.

This team needs to address the QB situation.  Bryce's best games are not Lombardi worthy, so move on.  He is not the Alpha a young coach needs on the field.  Give him options at QB, some LBs and a good coordinator on defense, and I think we could use another stud WR.  It is time to start drafting developmental OL and start grooming them to replace our aging OL.

This draft is solid at QB as it stands now.  We need to focus on drafting the right guy and signing a veteran backup who is not the starting QB's BFF.  Compete.  Heck, i have no problem doing what Cleveland did--draft a QB in round 1 and then another QB if one falls into day 3.  

I think we need stability and I am not confident any respectable coach comes to Carolina.  Canales is frustrated, but the front office has failed him, as have injuries, and a really bad draft a few years ago that brought them Bryce.  He was hired to fix Bryce--so I say neuter him so he does not sire any more 5'8" QBs.  

Canales is better that Rivera was--Canales just has so much less talent.  Rivera was coach of the year a few times because he had Cam Newton, but could never put two winning seasons together.  That is a crime.“

Good thoughts there man. I I agree with about all of that. 

You speak to the importance of having continuity. I am big on it as something that we have lacked that is stunting our growth. Constantly resetting the clock and taking the steps back that come with it. And here we are yet again - 21 games after saying we are really gonna commit to it this time, only to be bitten by the instant gratification bug because it isn’t paying off.  

in other news I probably don’t know enough about some of these candidates listed above but I don’t see much that excites me. Especially when I add Tepper to the picture.

Plus  there is a lot of season left that needs to play out still. 

Someone delete this monstrosity for me please, It won’t allow me to do it. Sorry.  

[strato]

9 minutes ago, CarolinaLivin said:

I mean agreed. Plenty more games to playout to see Canales grow as a HC. Wanted to give everyone a list of what this hiring cycle looks like to help. Too early to make these decisions. Im sort of indifferent on Canales right now. Don’t hate him, don’t love him. Could we upgrade? Maybe. Could we downgrade? Absolutely. I think we’ll have more options this year as we aren’t likely gonna force Bryce on a HC and our roster, while still bad, isn’t as bad as it was last search. Regardless Tepper will have to pay top dollar. 

Agreed and appreciate the effort that went into the original post. 

[SaltAndPepper]

Give me Brian Flores if Dave doesn't pan out. 

[Cavscout]

Steve Wilks is available

[Panthercougar68]

You can’t fire a coach this early again Ron Rivera with Cam Newton and Luke was 2 and 8 at one point during his second year. You have to let the whole season play out and see how things go towards the end and if Bryce ain’t it, he ain’t it and Dave will get his chance to get his own quarterback.

[poorboysrev]

1 hour ago, Jay Roosevelt said:

I would add a couple of other names:

 - Wes Phillips (Vikings OC)
 - Patrick Graham (Raiders DC)

My personal shortlist:

 - Joe Brady
 - Wes Phillips
 - Patrick Graham
 - Brian Flores
 - Todd Monken
 - Klint Kubiak

I just wonder if Joe Brady would have any interest in coming here after how things unfolded last time. Especially given that he's almost certainly going to have other options.

No retreads unless it's someone like Mike Vrabel/Brian Flores who really should not have been fired to begin with or someone like Sean Payton who retired and is returning. HELL no to Mike McCarthy and HELL NO to any college coach.

Honestly, though, if we can't get a sure fire upgrade I'd just assume keep Canales and hope he does better with a (hopefully) better QB. Other than Joe Brady I'm not honestly all that thrilled with the options that are out there. Although I do think Wes Phillips is a very underrated name that could make a lot of sense. I'm surprised he hasn't generated more buzz.

I think the Commanders model could be a good one. An experienced defensive-minded HC with a creative OC that has already been a HC and been fired.

Mike McDaniel would be a great choice for OC if/when he gets fired from Miami. Pairing him with Brian Flores or Patrick Graham could be a really solid move, IMO.

I like Kubiak simply because I’ve always wanted us to try a shanahan/kubiak style offense but I don’t follow coaches and who’s supposedly ready or not 

[jtm]

I just can’t stomach going through another HC search. Can someone just call me when the Panthers are relevant again. This is so depressing. 

[strato]

45 minutes ago, Cavscout said:

Steve Wilks is available

Did the zest (lol, Jets) fire him or something? 

Edited 1 hour ago by strato

[d-dave]

28 minutes ago, poorboysrev said:

I like Kubiak simply because I’ve always wanted us to try a shanahan/kubiak style offense but I don’t follow coaches and who’s supposedly ready or not 

If we were going to go for a new coach, then I'd like to see someone from a proven system with a track record.

I'm also with @MHS831 in that firing Canales before the end of the season is not a great look.  He's not been perfect.  The meta storyline for the Panthers organization is that Dave Tepper is a meddler, impatient and a douchebag.  All of his actions have proven them true which makes people with head coaching buzz either wait or take other jobs.  I think letting Dave start the next season on a Matt Rhule kind of leash isn't the worst idea.

I expect a new DC, someone who is a leader of men type with a good 3-4 scheme.  I think Evero is a good communicator, I enjoy his pressers, despite the terrible results of his Defenses.  I know he's limited with his LBs, but that's a GM problem.

The Panthers have to start hitting on draft picks.  That's the worst thing we've done for the past 5 years.  Four players from the 2022-2023 drafts are still on the roster...  That's forcing us to spend our money on pricey FA (with the poo team tax) instead of keeping guys around on rookie deals, freeing up cash.

The 2024 Class isn't the worst:

Round 1, Pick 32: WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina - Still on the team...young/old WR.  Let's see
Round 2, Pick 46: RB Jonathon Brooks, Texas - probably the worst pick, maybe he'll recover???
Round 3, Pick 72: LB Trevin Wallace, Kentucky - 2nd worst pick, needs to improve
Round 4, Pick 101: TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas - Starting TE in year 2, not bad.  Sucks he's hurt
Round 5, Pick 157: CB Chau Smith-Wade, Washington State - Pick 6!  Solid nickle
Round 6, Pick 200: DL Jaden Crumedy, Mississippi State - Late round flyer - depth/bottom of roster
Round 7, Pick 240: LB Michael Barrett, Michigan - Traded for Mike Jack = best pick of the draft lol

2025 - Let's see how the season plays out.

So I think I'm in the "let's be patient" with the coaching and the management.  Maybe Tepper has turned a new leaf.  If Bryce sucks the rest of the year, we let Dave & Dan pick their own QB and see what happens.  Tepper looks like he's learned to own, and maybe we lose some of that stigma.

[X-Clown]

7 minutes ago, strato said:

Did the zest (lol, Jets) fire him or something? 

Coming soon, his defense is allowing 30 points a game so far. 

[Waldo]

Defensive guys keep failing even when then do draft talented young QBs. I just don't think most make the best HCs any more. Bowels seems to be bucking thst trend while becoming more than just a DC as a HC. Dude keeps finding OCs 3 years in a row while other guys ran a top 5 D can't keep their offenses running well after 1 year.

Edited 58 minutes ago by Waldo