CHARLOTTE, N. C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers promoted Dan Morgan to president of basketball operations and general manager on Monday, tasked with transforming the long-suffering franchise into a former star linebacker.
Morgan, who has spent the past three seasons as the Panthers’ assistant GM, will oversee the personnel operation, the team announced.
The Panthers are 31-68 since David Tepper bought the team in 2018, tied with the New York Jets for the worst record in the league. They have not been to the postseason since 2017 and have been criticized for poor trades and draft picks in recent years.
Morgan replaces Scott Fitterer, who was fired this month after the Panthers went 2-15 with No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young at quarterback.
The Panthers hope to leverage Morgan’s football experience, as well as his relationships with players, coaches and agents.
“Dan has a deep understanding of our football and a transparent vision to take us where we all need to go,” Tepper said on the team’s website. “We know he’ll take advantage of this opportunity with the same intensity he did as a Panthers player. “
Morgan emerged as the leading candidate after multiple interviews with Tepper.
The team had requested interviews with eight candidates: Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown, Buccaneers assistant GM Mike Greenberg, Chiefs vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis, Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby, Saints assistant GM Khai Harley, Ravens vice president of football administration Nick Matteo, Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds and Raiders interim GM Champ Kelly.
A spokesperson for the team did not say how many of the applicants had interviews.
Morgan began his post-playing career with the Seattle Seahawks in 2010 as an intern and was later promoted during their Super Bowl run to director of pro personnel. He went on to work as director of player personnel for the Buffalo Bills before returning to the Panthers as assistant GM in 2021.
Morgan, one of the franchise’s most productive defensive players.
A first-round pick in 2001, he helped the Panthers succeed in their first Super Bowl in 2003, anchoring the defensive midfield. He played seven seasons for Carolina, setting an NFL record with 25 tackles in the Panthers’ Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots on February 1, 2004.
He in the Pro Bowl in 2004.
Tepper is now able to hire a head coach, the seventh since taking over.
He fired Frank Reich during the coach’s first season after the Panthers started 1-10.
Tepper fired Matt Rhule and Ron Rivera midseason, and Chris Tabor, Steve Wilks and Perry Fewell worked for him as interim head coaches.
The Panthers have already conducted virtual interviews with 11 top candidates for training, adding offensive coordinators Ben Johnson (Lions), Frank Smith (Dolphins), Bobby Slowik (Texans), Dave Canales (Buccaneers), Brian Callahan (Bengals) and Todd. Monken (Ravens) and defensive coordinators Dan Quinn (Cowboys), Raheem Morris (Rams) and Mike Macdonald (Ravens). The team also interviewed two internal candidates: Tabor, who also served as special task force coordinator, and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
Tepper is expected to fill the job with an offensive-minded coach who can expand on Young, who has struggled as a rookie.
Young went 2-for-14 as a starter and finished less than 60% of his passes, averaging 179. 8 yards per game with 11 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. Alabama’s 2021 Heisman Trophy winner has been fired 62 times. Only Washington’s Sam Howell has been fired more (sixty-five).
The Panthers failed to score in their final two games, becoming the first team to be shut out in back-to-back games since the 2008 Cleveland Browns. Carolina never led for a single snap in 2023 in the fourth quarter, with its only two wins coming on last-second field goals by Eddy Pineiro.