Dave Canales of the Bucs is “closing in” on a deal to become head coach of the Panthers.

The Carolina Panthers are undoubtedly hoping that their newest appointment will stick around longer after firing their head coach in each of the last two seasons.

That will be Dave Canales, who is “closing in” on a contract to take over as the Panthers’ next head coach, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

with the first time since high school, Canales, 42, worked as an offensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2023 season.

QB Baker Mayfield enjoyed a breakout season with the NFC South champion Bucs, throwing for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with Canales calling the plays

 

The offense played a major role in the Bucs’ victory over the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs, as quarterback Josh Mayfield threw for 337 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Canales will be taking over for a Carolina squad that concluded the previous season with a 2-15 record, the poorest record in the NFL. The Panthers traded their first-round pick in 2024 to the Chicago Bears in order to advance and select Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick in 2023.

.Young had a difficult first campaign due to an unreliable offensive line. He was sacked 62 times in 16 games, which was second in the NFL. He completed 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions on 59.8% of his attempts. Worse, he was completely outplayed by several quarterbacks in the 2023 draft class, including C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans.

After a 1-10 start, Panthers owner David Tepper sacked head coach Frank Reich amid the team’s problems in the previous season. Barely a year had passed since Tepper sacked Matt Rhule as head coach.

It will now be up to Canales to make things right in Carolina. It won’t be an easy challenge because the squad hasn’t ended with a winning record or qualified for the playoffs since 2017.