According to AP Sports Writer Steve Reed,

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

The Carolina Panthers have named Dan Morgan as the new president of football operations and general manager. This decision puts the responsibility of reviving the team upon a former standout linebacker.

The team announced that Morgan, who previously served as the Panthers’ assistant GM for the past three seasons, will now be in charge of the personnel operations.

Since David Tepper purchased the team in 2018, the Panthers have a record of 31-68, which is tied with the New York Jets for the worst in the league. They have not made it to the playoffs since 2017 and have faced scrutiny for subpar trades and draft selections in recent times.

Morgan takes over for Scott Fitterer, who was let go this month following the Panthers’ record of 2-15 with quarterback Bryce Young, the top pick in the draft.

The Panthers are seeking to utilize Morgan’s experience in football, as well as his connections with players, coaches, and agents.

“According to the team’s website, Tepper stated that Dan has extensive knowledge of our football players and a strong plan to lead us to our desired destination. We are confident that he will approach this opportunity with the same passion he had as a player for the Panthers.”

After conducting numerous interviews with Tepper, Morgan became the top contender for the position.

The team had invited eight potential candidates for interviews: Brandon Brown, the assistant GM of the Giants; Mike Greenberg, the assistant GM of the Buccaneers; Brandt Tilis, the vice president of football operations for the Chiefs; Alec Halaby, the assistant GM of the Eagles; Khai Harley, the assistant GM of the Saints; Nick Matteo, the vice president of football administration for the Ravens; Ed Dodds, the assistant GM of the Colts; and Champ Kelly, the interim GM of the Raiders.

The number of candidates who received multiple interviews was not disclosed by a team representative.

Morgan started his non-playing career at the Seattle Seahawks in 2010 as an intern and was eventually elevated to director of pro personnel during their Super Bowl season. He then served as director of player personnel for the Buffalo Bills before rejoining the Panthers in 2021 as assistant general manager.

Morgan was among the franchise’s top defenders.

Selected as a top pick in 2001, he played a crucial role in leading the Panthers to their inaugural Super Bowl appearance in 2003 as the centerpiece of their defense. Over the course of seven seasons with Carolina, he achieved an impressive feat by setting a new NFL record with 25 tackles in their Super Bowl defeat against the New England Patriots on February 1, 2004.

In 2004, he was selected for the Pro Bowl.

Tepper can now focus on selecting a head coach, marking the seventh one during his time in charge.

After the Panthers began the season with a record of 1-10, he dismissed Frank Reich from his coaching position.

Tepper has previously terminated the employment of Matt Rhule and Ron Rivera during the middle of the season. Interim head coaches Chris Tabor, Steve Wilks, and Perry Fewell have also previously worked under him.

The Panthers have already completed virtual interviews with 11 potential candidates for the head coaching position. These include Ben Johnson (Lions), Frank Smith (Dolphins), Bobby Slowik (Texans), Dave Canales (Buccaneers), Brian Callahan (Bengals), and Todd Monken (Ravens) for offensive coordinator, as well as Dan Quinn (Cowboys), Raheem Morris (Rams), and Mike Macdonald (Ravens) for defensive coordinator. The team also held interviews with two internal candidates: Tabor, who also served as special teams coordinator, and Ejiro Evero, the defensive coordinator.

It is anticipated that Tepper will select an offensive-minded coach to assist in the development of Young, who faced significant challenges in their first year.

Young’s record as a starting quarterback was 2-14 and he had a completion rate below 60%, averaging 179.8 passing yards per game. He also threw 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The 2021 Heisman Trophy recipient from Alabama was sacked a total of 62 times, second only to Washington’s Sam Howell who was sacked 65 times.

The Panthers were unable to put any points on the board during their last two games, making them the first team since the 2008 Cleveland Browns to be held scoreless in consecutive games. Throughout the entire 2023 season, Carolina never held the lead in the fourth quarter and only managed to secure two wins through last-minute field goals from Eddy Pineiro.

___

AP NFL hub: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

The AP NFL hub can be found at https://apnews.com/hub/nfl.

Source: wralsportsfan.com