CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dave Canales will attempt to do what Frank Reich and Matt Rhule before him could not: turn around the struggling Carolina Panthers.
The NFL’s worst team agreed to terms with Canales, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator, to become their head coach Thursday night in hopes that he will help snap a six-year playoff drought.
The Panthers are 31-68 since 2018, tied with the New York Jets for the worst record in the league during that span.
Canales becomes the seventh head coach to lead the Panthers since David Tepper took over as owner six years ago. He inherits a team that went 2-15 this season and does not have a first-round draft pick this year.
“Dave’s background is rooted in success,” Tepper said in a statement posted on the team’s website. “He has an innovative mindset and positive energy that connects well with players and staff. We are impressed with his ability to bring out the best in players.”
Canales, who is Mexican American, joins Ron Rivera as the second head coach of Latino descent hired by the Panthers. He is one of four minority hires during this coaching cycle, joining Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots, Antonio Pierce of the Las Vegas Raiders and Raheem Morris of the Atlanta Falcons. The league’s minority coaches also include Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers, DeMeco Ryans of the Houston Texans, Todd Bowles of the Buccaneers, Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins and Robert Saleh of the New York Jets.
The Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders still had head coaching vacancies as of late Thursday evening.
The hire caps a meteoric rise for the 42-year-old Canales, who was working as the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterbacks coach in 2022.
He spent 13 seasons in Seattle, including eight with Dan Morgan, who was recently promoted to general manager and president of football operations for the Panthers. Morgan replaced general manager Scott Fitterer, who was fired after the season.
“I’m excited to work alongside Dave again,” Morgan said. “His background coaching multiple position groups has given him a great understanding of what it takes to build a successful team. His infectious personality resonates with players and everyone who comes in contact with him. I’m confident that will translate to the field.”
Canales broke into the league in 2010 as the wide receivers coach in Seattle, where he helped the team win a Super Bowl in the 2013 season. He spent three seasons as the team’s quarterbacks coach, working with Russell Wilson, and two as passing game coordinator before landing a job with the Bucs last year.
Canales helped the Bucs reach the divisional round of the NFC playoffs with Baker Mayfield at quarterback in his first and only season as an NFL offensive coordinator.
“Excited for what’s to come but right now just thankful for my time with the Buccaneers!” Canales posted on social media. “Amazing fans and organization.”
Canales also thanked Bowles and Tampa Bay’s staff and players. The change of teams still keeps him in the NFC South Division, meaning his Panthers will face Bowles’ Bucs twice during the regular season.
“I’ll be rooting for ya 15 weeks out of the year!” Canales wrote. “Thank You!!”
It’s no surprise the Panthers chose a coach with an offensive background.
Canales will be entrusted with the development of quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft who struggled as a rookie. Young went 2-14 as a starter and averaged fewer than 180 passing yards per game and had just 11 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.
Canales’ development of Mayfield may have left a lasting impression on Tepper. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick had struggled last season with the Panthers and was released late in the 2022 season.
But under Canales, he resurrected his career in Tampa Bay.
Mayfield completed 64.3% of his passes for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season for the Bucs, who went 9-8 and won the NFC South in the final week of the regular season to make the playoffs. Mayfield played well in the postseason as well as the Bucs beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 32-9, before losing last week to the Detroit Lions, 31-23.
Mayfield completed 62.3% of his passes in the postseason for 686 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions.
Wilson had his best statistical season in 2020 with Canales coordinating the passing attack, throwing for 4,212 yards and 40 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. And Geno Smith posted his best season in 2022 with Canales as quarterbacks coach, throwing for 4,282 yards with 30 touchdowns and 11 picks.
The big question might be how much patience Tepper will have with Canales, who received a six-year deal, according to an ESPN report.
The Panthers fired Reich just 11 games into his first season as head coach this past fall after giving him a four-year contract. Tepper, whose tenure as owner includes a 31-68 record for the team, hasn’t shown much patience with head coaches, also having fired Rivera and Rhule during the middle of previous seasons.