Filling Panthers HC Dave Canales’ coaching staff: Who’s in, who’s out, who’s on the radar
Head coach Dave Canales and GM Dan Morgan want “dawgs” on the Carolina Panthers’ roster. But after the exodus of seven notable offensive coaches from last season’s staff, they also need to add teachers to the mix as well.
Canales is compiling his first NFL coaching staff, and Morgan, a former player-turned-top exec, is there to help.
While Canales seemed optimistic about retaining touted defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero on his staff, the longer it takes for that return to become official, the more curious onlookers will be about the status of the entire coaching group.
As The Observer reported last week, longtime Canales coaching counterparts like Brad Idzik and Tracy Smith have been requested for offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator interviews, respectively. Others are in the mix for those gigs as well.
Meanwhile, the Panthers, with Canales as the offensive play-caller, have already officially started to fill out some of the position coach slots.
Here’s what we know about the Panthers’ coaching staff so far (check back for updates):
Panthers’ coaching staff: Who’s in
Below are the official new additions to the staff since Canales was hired:
▪ Harold Goodwin, assistant head coach/run game coordinator (previous: same position with Buccaneers)
▪ Rob Moore, wide receivers coach (previous: same position with Titans)
▪ Bernie Parmalee, running backs coach (previous: same position with Jaguars)
▪ Joe Gilbert, offensive line coach (previous: same position with Buccaneers)
Panthers’ coaching staff: Who’s out
Below are the coaches who have not been retained/found work elsewhere since Canales was hired:
▪ Chris Tabor, special teams coordinator
▪ Thomas Brown, offensive coordinator (reportedly hired as Bears’ pass game coordinator)
▪ James Campen, offensive line coach
▪ John Lilly, tight ends coach
▪ Shawn Jefferson, wide receivers coach (reportedly hired as Jets’ wide receivers coach)
▪ Robert Kugler, assistant offensive line coach
▪ Devin Fitzsimmons, assistant special teams coach
On Canales’ coaching radar
Below are the reported candidates for openings within Canales’ staff:
▪ Offensive coordinator interviews: Brad Idzik, Buccaneers’ wide receivers coach; Marcus Brady, Eagles’ senior offensive assistant coach (according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Brady is expected to be hired by the Chargers as their new pass game coordinator)
▪ Special teams coordinator interviews: Tracy Smith, Seahawks’ assistant special teams coach; Cory Harkey, Bills’ assistant special teams coach (via ESPN)
▪ Quarterbacks coach interview: Will Harriger, Cowboys’ quality control/offensive assistant (via NFL Network)
Holdovers in limbo
Below are the employed holdover staff members who have not officially been confirmed as retained:
▪ Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator. (The Panthers are operating as if Evero will return; here’s a look at what Canales said about Evero’s future at his introductory press conference.)
▪ Todd Wash, defensive line coach
▪ Peter Hansen, linebackers coach
▪ Jonathan Cooley, cornerbacks coach
▪ Bert Watts, safeties coach
▪ Tem Lukabu, outside linebackers coach
▪ DeAngelo Hall, assistant defensive backs coach
▪ Dom Capers, senior defensive assistant coach
▪ Mike Bercovici, offensive assistant coach
▪ Mayur Chaudhari, defensive assistant coach
▪ Bobby Maffei, defensive quality control coach
