Another day, another coaching hire. This time it’s the Carolina Panthers who have found their man. They went to the college ranks and plucked Matt Rhule from Baylor according to Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel:
Sources: Baylor coach Matt Rhule finalizing a deal to become next coach of the Carolina Panthers.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 7, 2020
The news comes as a bit of surprise as the coaching search itinerary had Josh McDaniels visiting Carolina today and Rhule heading to his interview with the New York Giants. While McDaniels was one of the top candidates for the Panthers, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that ownership met with Rhule in Waco, Texas and were convinced he was their guy afterwards. Rather than let him meet with the Giants—where he was the clubhouse leader for the job—the two sides agreed to a deal before his plane could head north:
The #Panthers had a top two of Josh McDaniels and Matt Rhule. Owner David Tepper spent yesterday in Waco with Rhule and his family, and he heard enough. Rather than risk Rhule getting on the plane, he made a deal. Rhule is now Carolina’s coach.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 7, 2020
Rhule has spent the past six seasons turning around programs like Temple (2013-16) and Baylor (2017-19) but before he became a head coach in college he worked on the 2012 Giants staff as an offensive line coach so he has some NFL experience in his background.
A detailed-oriented coach who has been praised for the culture he’s built at his two collegiate stops, Rhule and the Panthers will first need to decide whether or not Cam Newton is part of the team’s future. A Lisfranc injury cut the former MVP’s season short but neither Kyle Allen or Will Grier did enough to cement themselves as true starting-caliber quarterbacks going forward. Carolina also holds the seventh pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, which could give Rhule the opportunity to choose his own guy depending on how the board plays out.
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