New Panthers head coach Dave Canales reveals scandalous details about his infidelity, porn addiction and binge drinking in a book he co-wrote with his wife 16 months before he got his first head coaching job. I made it.
Canales and his wife Lizzie wrote the faith-based book, This Marriage? “The Question That Changed Everything” reveals how he overcame his past addictions.
The 42-year-old and his wife say they no longer drink alcohol or rely on pornography. He detailed how his Christian roots helped save his marriage and family.
“I was living a secret life,” Canales wrote. According to the Charlotte Observer.
“No matter how hard I tried to go to church, read the Bible, and pray, I always had a secret dark place that was just me.”
Canales published the book in September 2022, when he was still a position coach with the Seattle Seahawks, and before his big break in 2023 when he was named offensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The couple said they wrote the book to help other couples struggling with their marriages.
“We wanted others to understand that they are not alone and feel safe in starting their journey towards a vibrant marriage,” the couple wrote in the book. It is written in the preface.
According to the Charlotte Observer, they also wrote in the preface: “Welcome to our mess and the beautiful way God has worked it all together for our good.”
The couple says that writing the book and reliving the painful details of their past was like going to counseling all over again, but that it “gave them new healing and hope through a deeper understanding of what happened.” He said that it helped him “find something.”
The Panthers said they were aware of the book before hiring Canales last week.
A team spokesperson said Canales could not comment until Thursday’s induction press conference in Charlotte.
In his book, Canales writes about how he ultimately made a “dark confession” about his infidelity to his wife.
“A major reason for the break in intimacy with Lizzie was my addiction to pornography,” Canales wrote. “It was like a gateway drug for me, creating a pathway in my brain that allowed me to ruthlessly exploit sex for my own benefit. It was a great struggle.”
He also wrote about how he cheated on Lizzie a month before their wedding.
The Charlotte Observer reports that Canales has admitted to cheating on him multiple times, and that the first time he cheated on his wife was at a bachelor party.
“Since we started dating, I have been binge drinking and going out with friends without Lizzie,” Canales wrote. “Even before I cheated on her, I was already inside. My bad habits and addictions made it hard for me to resist temptation. I knew that even before we started dating. It was a pattern.”
According to the Charlotte Observer, when Canales told his parents and step-parents about the affair, his step-mother responded: She told Lizzie that, and now she knows why. ”
According to the Charlotte Observer, Lizzy asked Canales if he had unprotected sex during their affair, and Canales admitted that he had done so, and they both took tests, which came back negative.
Canales also describes himself as a “recovering narcissist” and talks about how he has to work hard on “developing the skills necessary to recognize beyond myself and my needs.” I went into detail about what didn’t happen.
Regarding his drinking problem, Canales writes: “I knew I didn’t have much control when it came to drinking, so I stopped drinking completely. It paralyzed me from making other bad choices.”
He said that even though they attended church early in their marriage, they would sometimes go out with friends or take off their wedding rings on certain occasions to act as if they were not married.
“It didn’t always happen like this, but I left a crack in the door for deception,” Canales wrote, according to the Charlotte Observer.
Canales said the long hours he worked as an NFL assistant coach were not the cause of his problems, but it increased his chances of making bad decisions.
The couple wrote the book knowing that exposing painful and deeply personal matters could hinder Canales’ ability to get a job in the NFL in the future.
They discussed the importance of faith and prayer, saying that their marriage is now stronger than ever and that their faith in God has helped.
Lizzie wrote in her book that it essentially meant burning down the old marriage and creating something entirely new from the ashes.
“Many people are shocked when we tell them this,” the couple wrote. “For some people, it’s incredibly uncomfortable and perhaps even guilt-inducing. For others, it’s like a breath of fresh air, and it’s a way of thinking about their own relationships.” It’s like an invitation to dig deeper.”
of the couple have four children.
Former NFL coach Tony Dungy writes in the book’s foreword: they didn’t allow it. So David and Lizzie decide to get things back on track and rediscover their sense of purpose and initial intimacy. We’re happy to let you know that they did just that. ”
— with AP
