Panthers Ask for HC Interviews With Frank Smith, Dan Quinn, Raheem Morris, and Mike Macdonald
Four more applicants are joining the Panthers head coaching hunt. The Panthers have said that they have asked nine potential head coaches for interviews, and four more contenders have joined our list:
With the addition of these four coaches, the pool of potential candidates has grown to include offensive coordinators for the Lions, Ravens, Texans, Buccaneers, and Bengals in addition to Ben Johnson, Todd Monken, and Bobby Slowik.
Macdonald joins his offensive counterpart in Baltimore in interviewing for the open Carolina gig. The second-year Ravens DC helped guide the NFL’s top-scoring defense in 2023. Macdonald also managed to squeeze unexpected production from his pass rushers; despite Kyle Van Noy signing in September and Jadeveon Clowney catching on late in the summer, the duo combined for 18.5 sacks this past season. The Commanders have already requested an interview with Macdonald for their head coaching vacancy.
Morris also got an interview from the Commanders, the organization in which he served as the secondary coach between 2012 and 2014. Morris has spent the past three seasons as the Rams defensive coordinator, and he’s been a popular name on the interview circuit in recent years. He interviewed twice for the Vikings job in 2022, and he was linked to the Broncos and Colts gigs in 2023. Morris is seeking his second head coaching job after leading the way in Tampa Bay between 2009 and 2011.
After withdrawing from head coaching interest in each of the past two offseasons, we heard recently that Quinn is now believed to be “more receptive to the right offer.”After a hot start to his Falcons head coaching tenure, Quinn was fired in 2020 following two-straight 7-9 campaigns and an 0-5 start to the 2020 season. He’s spent the past three seasons as the Cowboys defensive coordinator, overseeing a unit that’s finished top-five in points allowed and top-10 in yards allowed each season.
Despite rumors that the offensive coordinator for the Dolphins would draw interest from head coaches, this is Smith’s first job that has been linked to him. In 2023, Smith and head coach Mike McDaniel finally witnessed their dream offensive lineup come to life as the team finished first in yards and second in points scored. This season, the rushing and passing offenses have both flourished, which makes Smith a compelling candidate regardless of personnel.
