Carolina Panthers Next Coach Odds: Candidates to Join Bryce Young and Co.

The Carolina Panthers are looking to replace former coach Frank Reich with a list of head coaching candidates, the favorite of which is Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. 

Carolina spent the first-overall pick in the last NFL Draft on Alabama QB Bryce Young, who failed to impress in his rookie campaign (179.8 yards per game, 11 TDs, 10 INTs). They also do not own their pick, also the first on the board, in the coming draft. 

The Panthers are in desperate need of a turnaround—but who will be the man to lead it? Here’s what the oddsmakers think.

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Carolina Panthers 2023 Stats

Record: 2-15 (fourth - NFC South)

Offense: 13.9 PPG (t-31st)

Defense: 24.5 PPG (29th)

Playoffs: Did not qualify

Carolina Panthers Next Coach Odds

Odds from BetOnline.

Top Favorites for the Carolina Panthers Job

Kellen Moore (+200)

Moore did not have a great year with the Chargers but was also made to look worse than he was because of a late-season injury to Justin Herbert. Before he went down, the Chargers had 21.6 points per game, about league average, and he consistently oversaw one of the top offenses while he was with the Cowboys. He’s never been a head coach but is one of many young offensive gurus whose stock is high.

Ben Johnson (+400)

Johnson is another younger offensive guy who found great success in two seasons calling the Lions’ offense. Detroit ranked fifth in scoring this year (27.1 points per game), and Johnson helped Jared Goff play like a top-10 quarterback over the past couple of years. He has also never been a head coach but is near the top of many teams’ radars. 

Mike MacDonald (+500)

MacDonald called the Baltimore Ravens’ defense each of the last two seasons, helping them rank first in points allowed, sacks, takeaways, and sixth in yards allowed in 2023. He’s been with Baltimore every year since 2014, except for 2021, when he called the Michigan Wolverines’ defense, which gave up the eighth-fewest points per game. He's in a different mold than the other two favorites but is a hot commodity because of his success and youth (36 years old).

What Went Wrong with the Carolina Panthers?

The Panthers didn’t do much of anything well in 2023. They were near the bottom in most offensive and defensive metrics, failed to surround their rookie QB with a proper offensive line or skill-position weapons, and didn’t get the defensive production they expected.

The good news for Carolina is that Young and 24-year-old corner Jaycee Horn will be back next season. However, Brian Burns is a free agent, and they owe their first-round pick to the Chicago Bears.

Success won’t be an immediate expectation in Carolina. The division is easier than most in the league, but there could also be reservations since Panthers’ owner David Tepper is rumored to meddle in coaching conversations, which reportedly led to Carolina taking Young instead of Offensive Rookie of the Year, C.J. Stroud, last summer.