CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It was only a news conference, but if Thursday’s joint session with new Panthers general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales was any indication, the new era of Carolina football will be one of unprecedented collaboration.
Morgan and Canales held an introductory news conference at Bank of America Stadium, laying out their vision for building a championship organization under the watchful eye of David Tepper.
The word of the day? Alignment. Morgan and Canales both stressed the importance of being on the same page, citing their time together in Seattle as evidence of what’s possible when the front office and head coach are pulling in the same direction.
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“If we want to win, we all have to be on the same page,” Morgan said. “We have to communicate daily. We all have to be aligned, plain and simple.”
Canales agreed, referencing several staff members he hopes to retain. Those coaches include veteran analyst Jim Caldwell and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Canales also discussed creating an environment for players to grow on the field and as humans away from the game.
“Every time the players walk into this building, they’re going to feel the intentionality,” Canales said. “We’re looking for championship moments, championship days and that’s got to be a full-on commitment every time we’re in here.”
Morgan also pointed to his time as a player in Carolina as inspiration for how the roster will be constructed. He mentioned several of his old teammates by name, saying the Panthers need dogs who will make the Panthers logo “be feared again.”
“We have a lot of guys in the locker room who love football and are passionate but we need more,” Morgan said. “We need toughness, physicality. To put it plainly, we haven’t had enough of that. When people drive up to Bank of America Stadium, they need to know they’re in for a dog fight.”
The Panthers made it official with Canales on Jan. 25, becoming the franchise’s seventh head coach. He previously spent one season as the offensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he was partially credited with revitalizing former Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s career. Prior to then, Canales coached quarterbacks with the Seattle Seahawks for 13 seasons, working with the likes of Russel Wilson and Geno Smith.
Canales said he hopes to retain Evero as the team’s defensive coordinator. His words made it seem as though it’s a done deal, but nothing has been confirmed as to Evero’s future with Carolina. He interviewed with multiple teams for head coaching vacancies but wasn’t hired.
One thing that is for sure? Canales can’t wait to coach Bryce Young. From the first time he mentioned Young’s name, Canales gave glowing reviews of last year’s No. 1 overall pick.
“I just got more and more fired up about the opportunity to have this amazing talent and he’s the guy,” Canales said, referencing Young when asked why he chose to pursue the Panthers job. “We are going to become great at what Bryce is great at.”