Carolina Panthers officially agree to terms with Dave Canales as new head coach

The Carolina Panthers have announced the hiring of new head coach Dave Canales. Signing him to a six-year deal, Canales will become the seventh head coach in franchise history.

“Dave’s background is rooted in success,” Panthers owner David Tepper said, via press release. “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 previously served as the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for one season. His lone season with the Bucs was a memorable one, however as he helped lead the Buccaneers to a divisional round playoff game against the Lions but ultimately came up short.

Prior to his season-long stop in Tampa, Canales spent over a decade with the Seattle Seahawks across several roles, including two stints as quarterbacks coach from 2018-19 and again during the 2022 season. He spent 2020-21 as Pete Carroll’s passing game coordinator. In fact, he followed Carroll from USC to the pros when he made the jump before the 2010 season.

That time he spent in Seattle saw him work alongside new Carolina Panthers President of Football Operations/General Manager Dan Morgan, who commented on the hire in the same release.

“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.”

On top of his coaching career, the hire makes Canales the fifth Hispanic head coach in NFL history, following former Panthers coach Ron Rivera, Brian Flores, Tom Flores and Tom Fears, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter.

Now, he’s tasked with taking over the team that finished with the worst record in football. He has a good place to start set in stone with Bryce Young — last year’s No. 1 overall pick — under center. Given the fact that Carolina gave up its 2024 first-rounder to the Chicago Bears in order to obtain Young in last year’s draft, year one could prove difficult for Canales in Carolina.

He’s not planning on taking over a team and having them Super Bowl ready in a year’s time. Instead, the Panthers will enter 2024 in full rebuild mode on the way to putting themselves back in the conversation for a divisional title.