According to reports from WRAL staff and wire sources,

On Monday, the Carolina Panthers terminated their general manager, Scott Fitterer. This decision came after the team suffered back-to-back shutout losses, resulting in a disappointing record of 2-15 for the season.

The Panthers are currently searching for a head coach and general manager simultaneously, which hasn’t happened since 2002.

The Carolina team decided to let go of their first-year coach, Frank Reich, after only 11 games into the season due to their 1-10 record.

On Monday, the team made the Fitterer decision public, following a defeat against Tampa Bay that marked the end of their 9-0 season.

“I have decided that Scott Fitterer will no longer hold the position of general manager as we continue to progress with the new direction of our franchise,” stated Panthers owner David Tepper. He expressed gratitude for Scott’s contributions and extended well wishes to him and his loved ones.

In 2021, Fitterer became a member of the team and since then, the Panthers have recorded a 14-37 record.

The Associated Press left text messages for Fitterer, but he did not respond right away.

Fitterer orchestrated a trade with the Chicago Bears last year that allowed the Panthers to move to the No. 1 spot to get quarterback Bryce Young in exchange for wide receiver D.J. Moore and four draft picks — one of them that turned out to be the No. 1 overall pick in 2024.

The decision did not turn out well for the Panthers and has faced significant backlash, especially considering the impressive performance of C.J. Stroud, who was drafted second overall and is a top contender for rookie of the year. Stroud has led the Houston Texans to the playoffs in his debut season.

Last year, Fitterer made a trade that involved sending the team’s top player, Christian McCaffrey, to the San Francisco 49ers in return for draft picks. However, none of the picks were in the first round.

Two of the key free agent signings made by Fitterer during the previous offseason, running back Miles Sanders and tight end Hayden Hurst, did not meet expectations in 2023.

Furthermore, Fitterer declined a proposition from the Los Angeles Rams to trade outside linebacker Brian Burns for two first-round draft picks. The Panthers have been unsuccessful in securing a prolonged contract extension for Burns, making him eligible for unrestricted free agency in the upcoming offseason.

The trade involving Young may potentially be remembered as one of the most unfavorable in the history of the league.

Since Tepper bought the team in 2018, the Panthers have had difficulty maintaining a stable quarterback situation.

Fitterer mentioned that he was involved in every transaction and acquired Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, both of whom were top three draft picks. However, neither of them proved successful. Fitterer exchanged a sixth-round pick in 2021 and second- and fourth-round picks in 2022 with the New York Jets for Darnold. He also traded a fifth-round pick in 2024 with Cleveland for Mayfield.

The team aggressively pursued a trade for Deshaun Watson, but he ultimately signed a fully-guaranteed contract with Cleveland.

Tepper became increasingly anxious and expressed a desire for the team to trade up to the top pick in the draft in order to secure a quarterback.

The Panthers attempted, but achieved unfavorable outcomes.

Young, who stands at 5 feet and 10 inches and weighs 204 pounds, was the recipient of the Heisman Trophy in 2021 while playing for Alabama. However, his first year as a professional was plagued by struggles, resulting in a record of 2 wins and 14 losses as a starter. On average, he only threw for 179.3 yards per game and had 11 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns.

The offensive line did not provide much assistance, resulting in 62 sacks for him, which tied Steve Beuerlein for the most in franchise history. Apart from the experienced Adam Thielen, the wide receivers of Carolina struggled and the team did not receive consistent output from their tight ends.

The Panthers ended their season with two consecutive shutout losses, something that hasn’t occurred since the 2008 Cleveland Browns. Throughout the season, the Panthers never ran a play in the fourth quarter while holding the lead. Their only two victories were achieved with last-second field goals while they were behind.

However, according to Chris Tabor, who acted as the team’s temporary head coach for the last six games, he believes that Young still has a promising future.

Tabor expressed his belief that when he reaches his final year of high school and is achieving success in sports and dominating his opponents, he will reflect on his first year and acknowledge that although it may have been tough, it ultimately contributed to his growth and success. Tabor also added that he sees a promising future ahead for this individual.

Other than Young, the Panthers did not achieve significant success in the draft with Fitterer.

In 2021, they chose Terrace Marshall Jr. as their wide receiver in the second round. However, he has not been active for most of the season and requested a trade before the deadline.

The Panthers selected Ickey Ekwonu with the 6th overall pick in the draft last year. Despite a strong first year, he struggled significantly at the left tackle position this season. Additionally, the Panthers traded up in the third round to acquire quarterback Matt Corral, but he never saw any playing time for Carolina and was ultimately let go. Corral is no longer in the NFL.

The majority of the team’s draft selections in the later rounds from the past three years have departed from the team.

After Fitterer’s departure, Dan Morgan, the assistant general manager, will oversee daily tasks until a replacement is hired.

Source: wralsportsfan.com