The Carolina Panthers coaching staff took a significant step forward in 2024 under head coach Dave Canales, offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Now, heading into 2025, they’re climbing, but still have more to prove.
In Ben Solak’s annual league wide ranking of all 32 coaching staffs, he placed the Panthers at No. 24, a modest rise from their 27th place finish last year. While that might not seem like a dramatic leap, Solak acknowledged the job Dave Canales and his team did in stabilizing a chaotic season and setting a foundation for growth.
“One of the better coaching jobs across the league last season was the work Dave Canales and Brad Idzik did pulling out of the tailspin that was the Week 3 benching of Bryce Young and Week 8 Andy Dalton car accident,” Solak wrote. “Young looked like a viable NFL quarterback down the stretch, when he began the season looking like that would never be in the cards.”
Canales and Idzik Rebuild the Offense
GettyA Foundation Built in the Fire of 2024
After a rough start to the season, the Panthers’ offensive staff found their footing not just by fixing Bryce Young, but by revamping the entire offense around him. Solak credited Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik for simplifying the game for their young quarterback by leaning into a physical, run-heavy scheme.
“The best thing they did on offense wasn’t so much improving Young’s play as it was improving the running game around Young. The reloaded offensive line, along with Canales and Idzik’s commitment to heavy personnel and under center, downhill runs, created a steady grind of moderate gains.”
The staff’s physical approach allowed Young to settle in and regain confidence, especially in the final stretch of the season. But as Solak notes, it’s still an open question whether the Panthers can build on that success and take the next step in Year 2. “Can they continue to get that caliber of play out of Chuba Hubbard? Can they put more on Young’s plate? The offense is still growing.”
Evero’s Bounce-Back Opportunity
GettyEjiro Evero’s Redemption Arc Begins Now
Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero entered last season with high expectations, but the Panthers defense finished at the bottom in multiple key metrics, including points per drive allowed and EPA per play.
Solak didn’t let injuries be an excuse, though he remains optimistic about Evero’s ability to rebound. “I’ve long been an Ejiro Evero fan, and the Panthers had plenty of defensive injuries last season, but I still have to dock some points for that dreadful showing. Dead last in points per drive allowed, success rate and EPA per play. The good news? Tons of reinforcements have arrived, both via free agency and the draft.”
Evero now has more to work with at every level of the defense, and if his unit can take a leap forward, this staff could quickly gain respect around the league.
The Panthers are a team in transition, but they’re not lost. Canales and Idzik helped stabilize a volatile season, and Evero has the talent to orchestrate a turnaround on defense. While Solak isn’t quite ready to rank them higher, the pieces are starting to fall into place in Carolina. The next step is sustaining it, and showing the league that 2024 was the beginning of something real.
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