Panthers introduce head coach Dave Canales, GM Dan Morgan: ‘It’s going to get better’
Dave Canales’ dream was to be the head football coach at his high school.
After two seasons as the offensive coordinator at his alma mater in California, he realized that running a football program was all he wanted to do. The Carson High School gig was more than enough for Canales, but his wife, who worked three different jobs at times, encouraged him to make it as far as this coaching journey could take him.
“This is our journey,” an emotional Canales said Thursday, looking at his wife, Lizzy. “This is our dream.”
Canales, 42, was introduced as the Carolina Panthers’ head coach, alongside new general manager Dan Morgan, in a news conference Thursday morning at Bank of America Stadium. He becomes the seventh permanent head coach in franchise history.
Two days after it was announced the Panthers were reportedly hiring Brad Idzik as offensive coordinator, Canales said he expects defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero to return.
“(Canales) has a track record of bringing the best out of players,” said Panthers owner David Tepper. “He is a connector. He takes the time to work with players to create an environment that will earn their trust and maximize their ability.”
Canales spent last season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator after 13 years in various roles with the Seattle Seahawks.
He was quarterbacks coach for his final year in Seattle in 2022, when Geno Smith guided the team to the playoffs and was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He moved on to Tampa Bay, where he called plays in Baker Mayfield’s career-best season and the Buccaneers reached the divisional round.
Now he’ll be tasked with developing second-year quarterback Bryce Young.
“In Seattle, we were never anywhere close to touching the first overall pick,” Canales said. “Just a year ago, we’re evaluating him as a player, as a person with all the information we could. I just got more and more fired up about the opportunity to have this amazing talent. He’s the right guy that we all talk about when we have that face of the franchise-type player.”
After playing collegiately at the NAIA level with Azusa Pacific University, Canales began his coaching career in 2004 as offensive coordinator at Carson High. A previous wide receiver and defensive back on that field, he coached his alma mater for two seasons and then jumped to El Camino College, in the Los Angeles area, as a tight ends and special teams coach.
Canales arrived at the University of Southern California, under future Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, in 2009. He was the Trojans’ assistant strength coach for one season before following his boss to Seattle.
Super Bowl XLVIII champions in 2014, the Seahawks reached the postseason 10 times when Canales was there.
“You can tell it’s not fake, either. I think that’s the biggest thing with someone who comes in here that’s full of energy, full of passion,” said Panthers offensive lineman Austin Corbett. “It’s very easy to see through it if it’s fake. He’s just completely sincere, and it’s true, and that’s exactly who he is. From guys I’ve talked to around the league that have been with him, that’s exactly who he is.”
Canales, a second-generation Mexican-American, is the fifth head coach of Latino descent in NFL history, including former Panthers coach Ron Rivera.
He was introduced Thursday alongside Morgan, with whom he spent eight years in Seattle.
“This is a dream come true for both of us,” Morgan said. “We’re going to work our butts off... It’s going to get better... We’re going to do things the right way to build a championship team here.”
