Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper will be hiring his third head coach since he took over in 2018 following a one-and-done season for Frank Reich in 2023.
The Panthers have reportedly interviewed a lot of candidates recently, but it’s unclear if anyone wants to work for Tepper after how his past two hires have gone and after reports of in-fighting within the organization.
However, former NFL general manager Mike Lombardi told ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” that the best fit for the Panthers right now is former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel because of how Vrabel turned the Titans into a perennial playoff team very quickly.
“If I were David Tepper I would be all over [Vrabel],” Lombardi said. “He’s exactly what their organization needs.”
“If I were David Tepper I would go after Mike Vrabel..
He’s exactly what that organization needs and he makes a lot of sense for a lot of teams”@mlombardiNFL #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/1lwCtYYGpd
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 19, 2024
This hire will be the biggest by Tepper because it will directly affect the trajectory of 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young.
The young quarterback didn’t have a great first year in the NFL but showed promise at times despite no clear path at head coach.
Vrabel would be a solid CEO-style coach who understands both game-planning, roster management, and locker room culture, but the staff he brings with him would be just as important as well.
But Vrabel might not be interested in joining a team with a youthful roster, not a lot of top draft picks, and clearly looking to rebuild despite playing in the very winnable NFC South.
It’s also unclear if the Panthers are even interested in interviewing the ex-NFL linebacker for the head job after Carolina was heavily linked to Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
