Dave Canales is set to be the new head coach of the Carolina Panthers. The former offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is expected to have a big influence on Bryce Young’s development.
Despite a tough first season for Young, who was the No. 1 pick in the draft, Canales has shown potential in guiding players to success. The Panthers struggled last season, finishing with the worst record in the NFL.
This led to owner David Tepper firing former head coach Frank Reich mid-season. Now, they’re bringing in Canales, who, despite having no prior head coaching experience, has shown promise in his one year as a play-caller.
Canales has already proven his ability to improve players’ performances, helping Tampa Bay exceed expectations offensively. With him now in charge, there’s hope he can do the same for Carolina, especially for Young, who had a challenging rookie year.
Last season, the Buccaneers surprised many by securing a playoff victory, even though they were predicted to struggle. Canales was the play-caller for that game.
A major factor in the Buccaneers’ success was Baker Mayfield having the best season of his career, turning from one of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks into an above-average starter. Canales played a key role in developing an offensive system that suited Mayfield’s strengths.
Though 2023 was his first year as an offensive coordinator, it wasn’t Canales’ first time working with a quarterback. In 2022, Canales was the quarterback coach and pass-game coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks.
That year, Geno Smith, who had spent eight years struggling as a backup, surprised everyone with an elite performance. Smith credited Canales for his success, as they had worked together for several years, even when Russell Wilson was the Seahawks’ starting quarterback. This success helped Canales land the job with the Buccaneers.
Canales also spent years working with Wilson, who became one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks during the 2010s. Together, they won a Super Bowl and reached another the following year. Despite his recent success, Canales’ appointment at 42 might be a surprise to some, given the other coaches still available for head coaching roles.
Legendary coaches Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll are still looking for jobs, and Mike Vrabel, the 2021 Coach of the Year, was a strong contender for the Panthers’ role. Offensive coordinators Ben Johnson and Bobby Slowik, considered top candidates, are also waiting for their first head coaching opportunities.
Canales, however, stood out as one of the top new choices before the offseason started. Before accepting the job, Canales told reporters, “This is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. I have some stuff prepared that I’ve been thinking about for a couple of years.”
