Jimmy Johnson blasts David Tepper for mismanagement of Carolina Panthers, Bryce Young
Jimmy Johnson offered some pointed criticism of Carolina Panthers (0-2) owner David Tepper during “FOX NFL Sunday.”
Johnson, the two-time Super Bowl champion head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer, blamed Tepper for the Panthers’ ineptitude and the mismanagement of 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young.
“Why’s he had all these coordinators and head coaches? The owner of the Carolina Panthers, that’s the problem,” Johnson said. “He’s making the major decisions without listening to his football people. David Tepper, it’s his team [and] he can do whatever he wants to do but look at the people that’s left. He’s the one that wanted Bryce Young as the No. 1 pick and also lost Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, Brian Burns, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold.
“Look at coaches, Steve Wilks, Frank Reich, Matt Rhule. He has run them all off. He’s making the decisions. He has got to listen to his football people and quit playing fantasy football.”
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Panthers bench Bryce Young in favor of Andy Dalton
Since Tepper purchased the franchise in 2018, Carolina has had six head coaches and a revolving door at the quarterback position. Several star players, including McCaffrey, Moore and Burns, are playing elsewhere while Carolina’s roster remains arguably the worst in the NFL.
Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, was supposed to be the franchise’s savior. That’s who Tepper reportedly wanted in favor of C.J. Stroud, named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year last season. But with Young under center, the Panthers are 2-16. He’s already on head coach No. 3 and the results continue to be less than inspiring.
In the Panthers’ two losses to open the season, Young completed 31-of-56 passes for 245 yards with zero touchdowns and three interceptions. Canales and co. opted to go in a new direction this week, giving veteran signal-caller Andy Dalton the start in Sunday’s Week 3 road contest against the Las Vegas Raiders (1-1).
Young is getting a reset of sorts, and it remains to be seen if that’ll do the trick. But for now, it’s Dalton’s team, whom Canales believes gives them the best chance to win.
“A lot of factors that go into it for this decision. And, ultimately, just kind of landed on my shoulder to be able to make the best decision for our group to give us our best chance to win this week,” Canales said Monday. “And we focus on the weeks, we focus on the challenge at hand. We feel like Andy gives us our best chance to meet the challenge.
“This was my decision. This is our football team. This is trying to win on a weekly basis. And while it’s my decision, I gather information from the people that are critical to making these kinds of decisions. But this is something I felt like gives us our chance to take a step forward in our play style. And to be able to compete this week against a really good Raiders team.”