Panthers' Tepper: 'Loss of intensity' a factor in Rhule firing
Hours after firing head coach Matt Rhule, Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper explained his rationale Monday.
Tepper said he had multiple reasons for making the change but ultimately felt it was the right time after the team's 37-15 home defeat by the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
"There might have been a little bit of loss of intensity on the field yesterday," Tepper said. "I would say that's probably evident versus given the first four games."
Rhule was dismissed following a 1-4 start and leaves with an 11-27 record over two-plus seasons with the franchise. Defensive pass game coordinator/secondary coach Steve Wilks was named the interim coach.
Carolina also relieved defensive coordinator Phil Snow and assistant special teams coordinator Ed Foley of their positions.
Tepper said he's focused on building around Wilks and giving the team an opportunity to succeed rather than writing off the rest of the campaign.
"There's a lot of season left and we'll see how the season goes," he said. "Ultimately, he's in a position to be in consideration for that position. ... Obviously, if (Wilks) does an incredible job, he has to be in consideration."
Tepper noted that while the organization has made some progress, it's still struggling to get over the hump. When asked what getting over the hump means to him, Tepper answered, "Winning."
Identifying a franchise quarterback was a problem for Carolina during most of Rhule's tenure. The Panthers attempted to address the issue by acquiring Sam Darnold (2021) and Baker Mayfield (2022) via trades without much luck. The team even brought back Cam Newton, but he was unable to regain his former MVP form in his second stint.
The owner suggested the Panthers need a culture change in order to win.
Tepper said he'd also like to see a better balance between the team's general manager and head coach going forward, but he stated that it's premature to question the status of general manager Scott Fitterer. "Scott is our GM," he said.
Carolina hasn't put together consecutive winning seasons since Tepper took control of the team in 2018.