Panthers Request to Speak with Seahawks Special Teams Asst. Tracy Smith

A new candidate for the special teams job in Carolina.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales is moving quickly to piece together his coaching staff.

According to Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer, the Panthers have requested to speak with Seattle Seahawks special teams assistant Tracy Smith about their vacant special teams coordinator job.

The #Panthers have requested to speak with Seahawks assistant ST coach Tracy Smith for their ST coordinator opening, per league source.

Smith worked with Canales in Seattle. He was previously an STC for Houston.

— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) January 27, 2024

On Friday, Canales elected to not retain Chris Tabor who ran the unit over the past two years before moving into the interim head coach role toward the end of the season in 2023.

Smith has been in the NFL since 2010 spending time with the Browns, Seahawks, 49ers, Raiders, and Texans. In his three years as the ST Coordinator in Houston, the Texans ranked 8th, 11th, and 13th in Rick Gosselin's special team rankings. Over the past three years, he's helped Seattle to finish 3rd, 2nd, and 6th. 

He's worked with some really talented specialists including Jason Myers, Michael Dickson, Bryan Anger, Ka'imi Fairbairn, Giorgio Tavecchio, Sebastian Janikowski, Andy Lee, and elite kickoff returner Josh Cribbs.

Smith's NFL Coaching Timeline:

2010: Special Teams Assistant, Cleveland Browns

2011: Coaching Assistant, Seattle Seahawks

2012-14: Special Teams Assistant, San Francisco 49ers

2015-17: Special Teams Assistant, Oakland Raiders

2018-20: Special Teams Coordinator, Houston Texans

2021-pres: Special Teams Assistant, Seattle Seahawks

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