GM or Coach? Which Should Come First?

New leadership is on its way to Carolina. The question is, who arrives first?

Author:
Schuyler Callihan
Jan 18, 2024 4:04 PM EST

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For better or worse, David Tepper is leading the charge in the search for the Carolina Panthers' next head coach and general manager with assistance from consulting firm, Sportsology.

After a miserable 1-10 start to the season, Frank Reich was relieved of his head coaching duties. Six weeks later, GM Scott Fitterer would follow.

For the first time since Tepper purchased the team from Jerry Richardson in 2018, the Panthers will be bringing in a head coach and GM in the same offseason. This gives the Panthers a chance to finally get on the same page in terms of how the front office envisions things to how the team is coached on the field.

In year's past, there was major disfunction. Whether it be Matt Rhule/Marty Hurney, Rhule/Fitterer, or Fitterer/Frank Reich. The two sides have never been completely aligned due to their staggered hirings.

Some rumors have floated around that the Panthers could focus on hiring the head coach first, then the GM. Doing so would be another mishandled situation, I'm afraid. Sure, the GM you would be hiring would clearly know who he would be working with but it's still not his guy, per se.

The GM has to be a part of the hiring process for the head coach. One, it assures it's someone that he truly wants to work with and believes is the best fit for his vision and two, having the GM in place gives him a sense of ownership of the roster - something neither Hurney or Fitterer really had while partnered with Rhule.

I understand that the importance of the GM hire is just as important as the coaching hire. But at some point relatively soon, a decision needs to be made on Fitterer's replacement. Teams can start in-person interviews with head coach candidates beginning Monday, January 22nd and you don't want to fall too far behind others who are actively searching.

If the GM search begins to stall and all of the focus turns to the head coach, you have to wonder how much of an influence interim GM Dan Morgan will have, vouching for guys he has past connections with i.e. Dan Qunn, Dave Canales.