5 Panthers Immediately on Thin Ice to Begin 2025 Offseason

4. HC Dave Canales

All signs point to Dave Canales starting as the Panthers head coach in 2025. The team plays hard, and certain key young players have shown intriguing development. Canales certainly deserves a second year in charge but the Panthers ownership can be rather unpredictable.

It has been reported that the Teppers are satisfied with the job Canales did in his first year as a head coach. Things can change quite quickly with the Panthers, however. Starting next season with a losing streak could easily signal the end of the Dave Canales era in Carolina.

Despite the offensive improvements and individual development, the Panthers took a serious step back defensively this season, giving up more points and yards than any other team in the league. Yes, the talent level on that side of the ball is not remarkable but the Panthers probably should be better than the worst defensive unit in the game.

Perhaps it is defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero who is on the hot seat and at risk of losing his job. Once he is out of the picture and the Panthers still don't improve defensively, it will be Canales' turn.

The 43-year-old may have earned himself some time but it's hard to argue that his job is safe heading into the offseason.

5. GM Dan Morgan

Everything that can be said above about Dave Canales applies to general manager Dan Morgan.

Morgan has been involved in the Panthers front office for the past four seasons since being hired as the assistant GM in the 2021 offseason. The team went 18-49 in that span. Five head coaches and a carousel of quarterbacks haven't changed Carolina's fortunes.

One can easily point to the front office as the real culprit of the Panthers' struggles. This team severely lacks elite talent on both ends of the field.

The Panthers will likely spend the draft and free agency to address their defensive weaknesses. If the team doesn't improve in the first half of the 2025 season, however, it could signal the end of the Dan Morgan era.

Regardless of how well Morgan does in the offseason, if the results don't back it up at the start of next season, both Canales and his seats will only continue to get warmer.

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