The Carolina Panthers fired coach Matt Rhule on Monday, less than three seasons into a seven-year contract worth $62 million, after the team fell to a 1-4 loss to San Francisco. Defensive pass game coordinator Steve Wilks, who coached the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, has been appointed the interim coach and registered an 11-27 record, one of the worst marks of any NFL coach since the 2020 season.
Rhule's downfall was hastened by the team's inability to bring in a franchise quarterback, as he started each season with a different starter. Under Rhule's guidance, the Panthers were outscored by an average of 4.8 points per game in the 27th NFL season. In the 25th season, the Panthers went down 1-27 when the opposing team scored 17 plus points.
"Just to talk about this game, you, I believe we had a chance to be closer than it was. You know, I think the pick-six, and then our defence hung in there. I just feel like we are better capable and have more potential than what's visible. It's how I feel, but you are what your record says you are. We are 1-4. It's not where any of us intended to be. So, we got to get that turned around," he said after losing the game.
Panthers owner David Tepper pulled the plug even though Rhule was not even halfway through his seven-year, $62 million contract. There have been a lot of expectations from the Panthers after they secured the services of Baker Mayfield from the Clevland Browns, who has completed just 54.9 per cent of his passes this season. Last week, Wisconsin fired Paul Chryst following a disappointing defeat to Illinois, but interim coach Jim Leonhard has been trusted with the responsibility to keep things going.
