The addition of Baker Mayfield was meant to mark a turning point in Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule’s career. Rather, it signaled his death.
The Panthers fired Rhule on Monday following a 1-4 start to the 2022 campaign, as the team had indicated.
Rhule will be replaced as the interim coach by Steve Wilks, who is also the secondary coach for the Panthers’ defensive passing game. According to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero on Monday, Wilks, who served as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals for one season in 2018, is anticipated to be given considerable consideration for the Panthers’ full-time position.
Rhule and Phil Snow were both fired, according to sources cited by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
Following the head coach to the professionals following stops at Temple and Baylor, Snow joined the company in 2020 along with Rhule. Al Holcomb, the Panthers’ run game coach, is anticipated to become Carolina’s new defensive coordinator, according to Rapoport and NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo.
General manager Scott Fitterer, who joined Carolina in January 2020 following Rhule, is continuing to work there for the time being, according to Pelissero, unlike Rhule and Snow.
With considerable excitement, Rhule joined the team in 2020 and signed a seven-year, $62 million contract. Panthers owner David Tepper thought Rhule was the right person to accomplish the same in Carolina after the former Temple and Baylor coach swiftly established a reputation as a rescuer, quickly transforming both teams into winners. They got something very different.
During his two or more seasons in Carolina, Rhule only managed an 11-27 record, including back-to-back seasons with five wins. The reasons why he is the first Panthers head coach to have served less than three complete seasons are clear.
