Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule is looking for experience in his search for a new offensive coordinator.

According to The Athletic's Joe Person, Rhule interviewed former Washington Football Team head coach Jay Gruden for the opening. Rhule is seeking a replacement for Joe Brady, who was fired in December.

Person added that Rhule also interviewed former New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo on Tuesday and "his preference was to hire someone with NFL play-calling experience."

According to Person, the other candidates who have interviewed for the position are Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Indianapolis Colts wide receivers coach Mike Groh and Colts running backs coach Scottie Montgomery.

Gruden, the younger brother of former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden, spent five-plus seasons as Washington's head coach. He served as offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals for three years prior to being hired by Washington.

Gruden went 35-49-1 as head coach with just two seasons with a record above .500. He coached the team to one playoff appearance in 2015. Gruden was fired after an 0-5 start to the 2019 season.

Gruden most recently served as offensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2020 season. He was fired along with the entire coaching staff after going 1-15, and he's been out of football for the last year.

Carolina went 5-12 this season and finished in last place in the NFC South. The Panthers ranked 30th in the NFL with 298.9 yards per game and 29th with 17.9 points per game.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said Monday he's still confident in his ability to play at a high level but noted he's willing to accept a backup role on a contender in 2022.

WCNC's Nick Carboni provided Newton's full comments about the future and his lack of interest in playing for a losing team:

Newton has struggled as a passer over the past two seasons.

The 2015 NFL MVP completed 65.8 percent of his throws for 2,657 yards with eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions across 15 appearances for the New England Patriots in 2020.

The Pats released him in August, and he remained a free agent until he rejoined Carolina, where he'd played the first nine years of his career, in November. He compiled four passing TDs and five picks in eight games (five starts) for the Panthers.

Newton is still an effective rusher with 822 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground in the last two seasons.

The 32-year-old three-time Pro Bowl selection said Monday he had an adjustment period since he "wasn't used to" being a backup, but he understands the situation and will take it into consideration as he heads toward free agency.

"I think I've proved to the people I need to prove to my worth, my value," Newton told reporters. "Me answering this now, just a day removed from the season, I don't know what that looks like. But can I tell you do I have a lot of football [left], do I want to play? Yeah. But under the right conditions."

Newton hasn't looked like a full-time starting quarterback since injuries suffered late in his first Panthers tenure—a shoulder injury in 2018 and a foot injury in 2019—but his ability in the ground game makes him an intriguing option for a contender to use in short-yardage situations.

The question is whether he'll be willing to accept that lesser role if the right team comes calling in the offseason or if he'll wait for a starting opportunity.

Meanwhile, the Panthers have quarterback questions to answer in the months ahead with Sam Darnold unable to prove himself as the team's long-term option.

The Carolina Panthers are 5-10 after five straight losses, but head coach Matt Rhule is expected to keep his job heading into 2022.

"All indications are coach Matt Rhule will return, barring an epic meltdown on the field or some unforeseen circumstance, sources informed of Carolina's plans said," Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported.

The Panthers began the season with a 3-0 record but have won just two games since September. It means Rhule is 10-21 across two seasons in Carolina.

Sam Darnold, Cam Newton and P.J. Walker have all started games at quarterback, but the team continues to struggle offensively, ranking 26th in the NFL in points scored. 

After his team's 32-6 blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16, Rhule remained upbeat about the team's progress under him.

"I believe it's 1,000 percent working," Rhule told reporters. "I just know no one can see it, and I apologize. As I tell our team all the time, it took Jay-Z, like, seven years. He had to start his own agency to become famous, to become an overnight sensation. It takes time."

The timeline he referenced is interesting considering the Panthers gave Rhule a seven-year, $62 million contract when he was hired in 2020.

Carolina owner David Tepper is reportedly "unhappy and embarrassed" about the contract, per Joe Person of The Athletic.

The 46-year-old had a successful run as a college head coach at both Temple and Baylor, but his first attempt leading an NFL team has not gone according to plan. Even if he gets a third year with the organization, there will likely be a short leash if things don't turn around in a hurry.   

Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule has named Sam Darnold the team's starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Cam Newton is the only other quarterback on the active roster, per Darin Gantt of the team's official site. P.J. Walker is currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Darnold returned to the field last week for the first time since injuring his shoulder in Week 9. He totaled 190 yards on 15-of-32 passing in the 32-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Through 10 games in his first year with the Panthers, Darnold has 2,176 passing yards, seven touchdowns and 11 interceptions to go with five rushing touchdowns. He was responsible for 10 scores in the first four games of the year but has contributed just two touchdowns in his last six appearances.

Newton was brought in after Darnold was placed on injured reserve, but he has struggled since becoming the starter.

The 32-year-old has just 684 passing yards through six appearances (five starts), adding four passing touchdowns, five rushing touchdowns and five interceptions. His 64.4 quarterback rating would be by far the worst of his career.

The poor quarterback play has led to a steep decline for Carolina, which is now just 5-10 after a 3-0 start.

Darnold will get another chance in Week 17 to show he deserves another shot as a starting quarterback going into 2022.  

Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule told reporters cornerback Stephon Gilmore suffered a groin strain during Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported "the extent of the injury is still unclear."   

The Panthers acquired Gilmore on Oct. 6 in a midseason trade with the New England Patriots. He made his season debut in Week 8, but played limited snaps in the first three games while working his way back into playing shape.

Rhule inserted Gilmore into the starting lineup for the first time in Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons. The four-time Pro Bowler played all but one snap over a two-game period. 

Gilmore left Carolina's Week 16 loss to the Buccaneers in the third quarter with a non-contact injury. The Panthers later announced he suffered a groin injury and would not return. 

Carolina has fallen apart down the stretch this season as injuries have taken a toll on the roster. The team has lost five consecutive games after a 5-5 start. Gilmore, Christian McCaffrey, Sam Darnold, Jaycee Horn and Shaq Thompson have all missed time. 

Until Gilmore is able to return, Stantley Thomas-Oliver III will likely take his spot at left cornerback. 

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was booed off the field during Sunday's 32-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which eliminated them from playoff contention. 

And while Panthers head coach Matt Rhule has often been criticized, Newton, who has an uncertain future in Carolina, believes the franchise is in good hands with the 46-year-old on the sideline.

"Coach Rhule is a great coach,'' Newton told reporters after the loss. "Last thing I checked, coach Rhule wasn't out there playing.

"I just know we're a good football team. It may not look like that all the time, but I know what I see in practice and I know what I've seen over these last couple of weeks, we're a good football team and we can win. It's just about us believing we can win and not taking the easy route and be able to grunt games away.''

Newton also defended Rhule's decision to replace him with Sam Darnold on the team's third drive and then use both quarterbacks the remainder of the afternoon. He said the decision to do so was made earlier in the week as Rhule believed it gave the Panthers the best chance of beating the Bucs. 

Newton finished the game 7 of 13 for 61 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, while Darnold finished 15 of 32 for 190 yards. In addition, Newton had five carries for 42 yards. 

Despite the lack of success, Rhule defended his process following Sunday's loss, telling reporters he believes it's working, even if no one else can see it. 

"We have some key areas that we have to fix," Rhule said. "Whether that is to coach them better, to do better organizationally. But I believe it is 1,000 percent working; I just know no one can see it, and I apologize."

The Panthers appeared to have a promising season ahead of them when they started 3-0. However, things fell apart after that as the team went on to lose its next four games before a Week 8 win over the Atlanta Falcons. 

Carolina has struggled with injuries this season, but its no excuse as teams around the league have been hit with significant COVID-19 absences, in addition to injuries. 

Rhule took over as head coach of the Panthers in 2020 and led the team to a 5-11 finish. Sunday's loss guaranteed Carolina another losing season under Rhule, but it doesn't appear he'll be replaced just yet. 

Rhule, who signed a seven-year, $60 million deal, told reporters earlier this week there had been no indication from Panthers owner David Tepper that his job was in jeopardy, per ESPN.

Carolina has not had a winning season since 2017, and the franchise is likely headed for more changes during the offseason.  

Carolina Panthers fans needn't worry; Matt Rhule is following the blueprint.

The Panthers head coach made a puzzling analogy following his team's 32-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, which officially eliminated Carolina from playoff contention.

"I believe it's 1,000 percent working, I just know no one can see it and I apologize," Rhule told reporters. "As I tell our team all the time, it took Jay-Z seven years. He had to start his own agency to become an overnight sensation. It takes time."

It's better if you don't think too hard about Rhule's comment because the level of confusion you experience is directly correlated to the time spent parsing it out. Jay-Z may not be the best parable for a coach to use, either, given what he did before hitting it big in the music industry.

More than anything, a message that boils down to "I may need seven years to deliver results" won't exactly inspire a lot of excitement within the fanbase, one that's already voicing its displeasure.

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported Sunday the Panthers aren't planning to fire Rhule but that the "odds of [team owner David Tepper] standing pat after a third straight lost season— should it come to that—are bleak."

Carolina went 5-11 in 2020 and currently occupies last place in the NFC South at 5-10.

The franchise already jettisoned offensive coordinator Joe Brady, and letting a top assistant go is often a head coach's last roll of the dice before the buck stops with him. If the Panthers aren't making progress toward a winning record in 2022, then it's fair to wonder what they'd achieve with another year with Rhule at the helm.

But by his trajectory, he wouldn't even be at the halfway mark on the Jay-Z roadmap for success.

Carolina Panthers cornerback Stephon Gilmore was ruled out of Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of a groin injury.

Carolina acquired the 31-year-old from the New England Patriots on Oct. 6. He started the year on the PUP list after undergoing offseason surgery to repair a partially torn quad and made his season debut on Oct. 31 against the Atlanta Falcons.

He was brought in by the Panthers to replace rookie cornerback Jaycee Horn, who suffered a broken foot in Week 3 against the Houston Texans. Through his first seven games this season, Gilmore had 13 tackles and two interceptions.

The No. 10 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, Gilmore is one of the best shutdown cornerbacks in the league when he's healthy. He has earned four Pro Bowl selections and was named first-team All-Pro in 2018 and 2019.

The South Carolina product was honored with the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019 after recording 53 tackles, 20 passes defended and a league-high six interceptions.

With Gilmore sidelined, the Panthers will rely on veteran cornerbacks A.J. Bouye and Donte Jackson on the outside. CJ Henderson, the ninth overall pick in 2020 who was acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars, will also see more time on the field during his absence.

Matt Rhule's head coaching position with the Carolina Panthers is reportedly safe, at least for one more offseason. 

According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, "owner David Tepper is not preparing to move from him despite the lack of victories to this point," though he added that "according to many who know Tepper well and have worked with him or for him in the past, the odds of this billionaire standing pat after a third straight lost season—should it come to that—are bleak."

Rhule, 46, is just 10-20 in his first two seasons as the team's head coach, though it's hard to lay all of the blame at his feet.

Superstar Christian McCaffrey has played in just 10 of a possible 30 games during Rhule's tenure because of injuries. The quarterbacks Rhule has had to work with have included Teddy Bridgewater, P.J. Walker, Sam Darnold and Cam Newton. Hardly an elite bunch. 

But Rhule's hiring of Joe Brady to serve as offensive coordinator proved to be a poor fit, and he was fired midseason this year.

"[Brady has] done a lot to get us moving in the right direction, but this was something that I felt like, from a football perspective, we needed to do now," Rhule told reporters in early December.

And Rhule's handling of his quarterback carousel has been questionable at times:

Rhule is two years into a seven-year pact with the Panthers, though La Canfora reported that the head coach "was linked to several top college openings last month and that there remain certain opportunities in the college game—where he turned around programs at Temple and Baylor—that would appeal to him."

So Rhule would land on his feet if the Panthers did decide to move on. For now, however, the Panthers aren't ready to give up on his tenure.