Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule said team owner David Tepper has been supportive and shown confidence in his long-term vision based on a conversation the two had Monday morning. Rhule’s job security has come under scrutiny this month as the Panthers have lost five straight games and suffered six consecutive defeats at Bank of America Stadium.
“I talked to Dave today, he’s been unbelievably supportive,” Rhule said. “All of our conversations this morning were about the best thing is to do moving forward. So he’s been tremendously supportive, and show me a ton of confidence in terms of what we’re doing.”
Rhule did not specify whether Tepper insured him he’d return for the 2022 season but Rhule and Tepper sharing positive conversations bodes well for him surviving another year.
“I don’t ask those direct questions and I certainly would never speak to his words,” Rhule said. “He’s shown me nothing but confidence about me and the future and moving forward. But I would never speak for him. I would feel like that would be out of line.”
With two games remaining, Tepper has yet to publicly endorse Rhule for a third season. Tepper signed Rhule to a lucrative seven-year contract to lure him away from Baylor where he had tremendous success rebuilding a program within three years of arriving.
Nearly two years into his Panthers’ tenure, Rhule has an overall record of 10-21 through 31 games. His stops at Baylor and Temple showed that Year 3 is when things start turning around. But instead of evidence of positive momentum, the Panthers are coming off one of their worst losses of the season. Sunday saw Carolina lose 32-6 at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where fans booed Rhule and the Panthers several times.
The first boos came when Sam Darnold relieved quarterback Cam Newton in the second quarter following a Newton interception. Late in the second half, a small pocket of fans started a “Fire Rhule” chant. Then after the game, boos rained on Rhule as he exited the field.
Rhule said Monday that he’d been booed before while at Temple and that it does not bother him. He said all can do is push his players to play these final two games with effort and execution.
“My job is to keep helping the players improve and keep helping the organization move to the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl and giving the fans what they deserve,” Rhule said. “And so they deserve a team that that wins games and wins at home. And so, we have not gotten that done yet.”
Publicly, Rhule will keep focusing on the short term. A win against New Orleans on Sunday would greatly increase the likelihood of him returning next season. Just as another embarrassing loss without an offensive touchdown could push Tepper the other way.
If Rhule returns, expect changes around his coaching staff. He must find an offensive coordinator to reinvent the Panthers’ identity. Carolina’s offensive line also needs a remodel. The Panthers’ young talent isn’t developing while their running schemes are unimaginative.
Rhule’s best case for returning resides in the fact he hasn’t lost his locker room. Newton endorsed Rhule following Sunday’s defeat. He said the loss had nothing to with coaching.
“I can tell you right now, it wasn’t because of the coaching. It wasn’t because of what a person may have said or done, because the truth of the matter is we all are playing for jobs,” Newton said Sunday. “Coach Rhule is a great coach. I heard the boos, I heard the chants and stuff like that, but last time I checked Coach Rhule wasn’t out there playing.”
