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Update 1/1 4:06 p.m. — The Panthers will interview Patriots OC Josh McDaniels.
Breaking: Josh McDaniels will have full interview dance card: Source: Panthers, Browns, and Giants granted permission to talk to Patriots OC. Also, Giants will get to speak with Joe Judge. https://t.co/JR6Bn3WRE9
— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) January 1, 2020
12/31, 9:10 a.m. — The Panthers are expected to interview Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy on Thursday.
I'm told that the #Panthers are currently scheduled to meet with #Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy on Thursday for its head coach vacancy, at this time, per source.
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) December 31, 2019
12/30, 10:10 a.m. — The Panthers have requested permission to interview Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, and are expected to request permission to interview Patriots OC Josh McDaniels.
The #Panthers have submitted a request for #Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, sources say. The plan is to interview him for their head coach opening this week. A strong candidate who Andy Reid has publicly supported as very ready.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 30, 2019
Cleveland Browns requested permission to interview Patriots’ OC Josh McDaniels for their head-coaching vacancy, per source. Panthers also expected to request interview.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 30, 2019
The Carolina Panthers fired head coach Ron Rivera on Dec. 3 after starting the season 5-7 and trending toward missing the playoffs for a second straight season. The Panthers replaced Rivera with interim coach Perry Fewell, who carried out the rest of the campaign. Carolina finished the season 5-11 after a blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 17. Now that the season is over, the Panthers can shift all their focus to the head coach search.
So far there have been a few names already linked to the job. Mike McCarthy, the former Green Bay Packers coach, has already reportedly interviewed for the vacancy. He was fired by the Packers last season after starting 4-7-1. McCarthy had led the Packers to the playoffs in eight straight seasons before failing to get there in 2017 before he was axed. Green Bay won the Super Bowl under McCarthy in 2010.
The other two names are Josh McDaniels and Matt Rhule. McDaniels will likely get an interview once the New England Patriots season is over, as he’s serving as offensive coordinator. Rhule is the coach of the Baylor Bears in the Big 12 and just led the team to an 11-2 season. Rhule served as an assistant coach in the NFL with the New York Giants, so he isn’t a complete stranger to the League.
The Panthers wanted to interview Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald for the opening, but he declined the interview and is considering going for the Chicago Bears job if Matt Nagy is let go after the 2020 season.
That’s the latest on the Carolina coaching front. We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news and analysis as we see reports until a coach is hired.
Interviewed
Mike McCarthy — Adam Schefter
Interview request
Eric Bieniemy — Jim McBride
Rumored interest
Matt Rhule — David Newton