Previous Panthers LB Dan Morgan is elevated to GM.
Monday marked the initial phase of the Carolina Panthers’ rebuilding initiative with the promotion of Dan Morgan to the position of president for football operations/general manager.
Scott Fitterer dismissed Morgan, 45, as assistant general manager after the Panthers’ dreadful 2-15 campaign, which ranked them last in the league.
Additionally, he played linebacker with the Panthers for seven seasons after being selected eleventh overall in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft out of Miami.
His new designation signifies a comprehensive reorganization of the front desk. Last week, everyone had online conversations with Carolina.
When Morgan was the manager of professional personnel and Canales had been a receivers coach in Seattle, they were co-employees.
“Dan has a crystal-clear vision to lead us to our collective goals and an in-depth understanding of our football staff,” said Carolina owner David Tepper in a statement.
“We are certain he will approach this opportunity with the same ferocity with which he approached his time with the Panthers.”
Morgan has been actively engaged in the search for a new head coach since Monday, when, according to a league source, Carolina defensive assistant Ejiro Evero was offered an in-person interview to enter the second phase.
Sources indicate that in-person interviews with offensive coordinator Brian Callahan of the Cincinnati Bengals, offensive coordinator Dave Canales of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris of the Los Angeles Rams are also scheduled for this week with the Panthers.
Ben Johnson, the leading candidate for the position of offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, is unavailable for an interview until the conclusion of Sunday’s NFC Championship Football against the 49ers of San Francisco.
The aforementioned statement holds for quarterbacks coach Todd Monken and defensive backs coach Mike Macdonald of the Baltimore Ravens, whose squad is in opposition to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
However, securing a general manager was the initial objective, and based on a league source, Morgan emerged from a second round of talks that also included assistant general managers Brandon Brown of the New York Giants and Alex Halaby of the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Panthers are hopeful that Morgan’s executive and playing experience will assist in turning around a team that has struggled to a six-game losing streak since Tepper acquired it.
Morgan was an active member of the Carolina Panthers’ 2003 Super Bowl run and served as Seattle’s assistant director of professional personnel during the 2013 Super Bowl victory of the Seahawks.
Dan Morgan has been appointed general manager as well as president of football operations of the Carolina Panthers. In January, the Panthers terminated Fitterer following a season in which they went 2-15.
The Panthers made the decision public on Monday. After seven seasons with the Panthers as a linebacker, Morgan returned to the organization in 2021 to serve as the assistant for then-general manager Scott Fitterer.
Morgan assumes control of the front office of a franchise that finds itself at a critical juncture following a turbulent 2023 campaign.
Carolina and the Chicago Bears exchanged a package consisting of two picks in the first round and receiver DJ Moore for the No. 1 overall pick in the previous season less than a year ago.
That selection was utilized by the Panthers to acquire quarterback Bryce Young, whose rookie NFL campaign was a failure.
Young was selected in preference to C.J. Stroud, who led the Houston Texans into the playoffs during an outstanding rookie campaign that is presently regarded as deserving of Rookie of the Year recognition. In the interim, Moore enjoyed a stellar season in Chicago.