Who could Panthers target as next head coach? Jim Harbaugh, Belichick and more candidates
Frank Reich is out and Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is looking for his fourth head coach in six years (seven including three interim coaches).
The hedge fund billionaire is again expected to target an offensive-minded head coach who can get more out of Bryce Young than Reich and his staff have been able to. But some NFL insiders view this is as a bad cycle for coaches with offensive backgrounds after several were hired the past two years.
The Athletic takes an early look at 11 candidates who could or should be on Tepper’s list.
Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator
The 37-year-old Johnson was believed to be Tepper’s top choice last winter before he removed himself from consideration. Johnson’s dynamic and creative offense would seem to be a good fit for Young, provided he had more playmaking pieces. But many in league circles are predicting Johnson will be the Los Angeles Chargers’ first target if they move on from Brandon Staley . And no matter how many millions Tepper were to throw at Johnson to return to his home state, Justin Herbert seemingly would make the Chargers more appealing.
When Steve Wilks was up for the Panthers’ job last winter, he hoped to bring Johnson in as his offensive coordinator. Instead, the Eagles promoted Johnson from quarterbacks coach to coordinator to replace Shane Steichen, and Tepper chose Reich over Wilks. In Johnson’s first season as the play caller, the Eagles are third in the league in scoring and ninth in total offense, and Jalen Hurts is one of the MVP favorites .
Jim Harbaugh, Michigan head coach
Tepper had preliminary discussions with Harbaugh last year before hiring Reich. And given Tepper’s love of big splashes, it wouldn’t be surprising if he reaches out to Harbaugh again. Harbaugh has a chance to win a national championship at his alma mater this season. But he has shown interest in returning to the NFL, and it’s not a stretch to suggest that interest could be heightened in the wake of Michigan’s sign-stealing controversy .
Steve Wilks, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator
There was public pressure last winter on Tepper to hire Wilks, who was the players’ choice after galvanizing the locker room following Matt Rhule’s firing. The Panthers went 6-6 during Wilks’ tenure as interim and went to Tampa in Week 17 with first place on the line in the NFC South. But hiring Wilks would require Tepper to swallow his pride and admit he messed up 10 months ago by not keeping Wilks in the first place. That seems like a stretch.
Bill Belichick, New England Patriots head coach
Tepper talked to Harbaugh and interviewed Sean Payton last year. You’d have to think he would at least make Belichick tell him no, assuming the eight-time Super Bowl winner (six as a head coach) is out in New England. And you’d have to think — given Tepper’s reputation for being a hands-on owner — that’s exactly what Belichick would tell him.
Bill O’Brien, Patriots offensive coordinator
The former Houston Texans coach was Young’s quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for two seasons at Alabama, including 2021 when Young won the Heisman Trophy. So O’Brien is well equipped to design an offense that takes full advantage of Young’s skill set. O’Brien took the Texans to the playoffs in four of his seven seasons in Houston, where personnel decisions were his undoing.
Bobby Slowik, Texans offensive coordinator
In his first season as an offensive coordinator, Slowik has helped guide C.J. Stroud to one of the best seasons by a rookie quarterback in NFL history. The 36-year-old Slowik is part of the Kyle Shanahan tree that also produced Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel. Slowik is probably another year or two away but he should get interviews this cycle.
Kellen Moore, Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback received a second interview and impressed the Panthers late in the process before Reich was hired. But Moore then was fired by Dallas — Mike McCarthy later said Moore wanted to “light up the scoreboard” — and could be fired again as part of Staley’s staff in L.A. He likely missed his window in Carolina.
In-house candidates
Thomas Brown, Panthers offensive coordinator
Brown gets another crack at play calling after Reich cut his initial stint short after only three games . Brown has interviewed for head-coaching jobs each of the past two cycles and has a presence about him. If he and senior assistant Jim Caldwell — who will work with Brown over the final six games — can get Young turned around, Brown could force his way into the conversation.
Ejiro Evero, Panthers defensive coordinator
The 42-year-old Evero has done a nice job holding the Panthers’ defense together despite a rash of injuries to key players, especially in the secondary. Evero was among the candidates for the Panthers’ job last go-round, and he is well respected in league circles. But on some level, Tepper might view hiring any defensive coach as an admission that he should have kept Wilks.
Chris Tabor, Panthers special teams coordinator
Tabor was one of only three holdovers Tepper kept from Rhule’s staff. And he was Tepper’s choice as interim coach, a role Tabor served for one game in 2021 when former Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy had COVID-19. Tabor also has guided a special teams group that has been the most productive of the Panthers’ three phases.
(Top photos of Brian Johnson, Jim Harbaugh, Ben Johnson: John Jones / Icon Sportswire, Mike Mulholland / )
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