TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tampa Bay’s success this season has left a hole in their coaching roster. Less than a year after Dave Canales was named the Bucs’ new offensive coordinator, he’s on the move.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Carolina Panthers are hiring Canales as the team’s new head coach. According to Schefter, the Panthers offered Canales the job, and he’s “taking it.”
Canales’ stint in Tampa Bay was his first season as a play caller; however, his work reviving Baker Mayfield’s career and the Bucs’ offense is likely a key reason for the Panthers’ appeal.
Before landing in Tampa, Canales spent 13 seasons working alongside Pete Carroll, Seahawks’ quarterback Geno Smith, and former Seahawks’ QB Russell Wilson. He first joined Carroll back in 2009 at USC and has been with the head coach in Seattle ever since 2010.
With Canales headed to the Panthers, he will also be reunited with Dan Morgan, Carolina’s new general manager. Canales and Morgan spent eight years together in Seattle from 2010-2017.
Carolina will now look to energize their young quarterback and former No. 1 overall draft pick Bryce Young, who struggled in his role this season after a stellar college career in Alabama.
The Panthers ended their regular season at the bottom of the NFC South with a 2-15 record. Their former head coach, Frank Reich, was fired back in November following the team’s NFL-worst 1-10 start. It was his first year at the helm.
As for the Buccaneers, it’s back to the drawing board as the team looks for their new OC while also figuring out its quarterback and free agency deals.
According to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman, the Bucs have several different contenders for their offensive coordinator spot: Panthers’ Thomas Brown, who interviewed for the Bucs’ OC position last year, Eagles’ Brian Johnson, Browns’ Alex Van Pelt, Chargers’ Kellen Moore, and more.
A name to keep an eye on in particular is Van Pelt, who was Mayfield’s offensive coordinator in Cleveland in 2020-21. Auman said Van Pelt was recently released by the Browns, and while he has no experience working directly with Bowles, he was Tampa’s quarterback’s coach in 2010-11.
