The Carolina Panthers made one big hire this offseason, naming former Pro Bowler Dan Morgan, who was with the team during his playing days, as general manager and president of football operations.
The Panthers searched far and wide to find the right person for the job, but decided to keep Morgan in-house as he has been serving as assistant GM since 2021.
But Carolina said he would bring “a new approach to the front office, even if it's a familiar face.” Of course, the Panthers had the worst record in the NFL last season, going 2-15.
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Dan Morgan of the Carolina Panthers poses for his 2007 NFL headshot during a photo session in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Getty Images)
“By putting Morgan in this position, they can leverage his football background, the toughness he brings to the game, and his relationships with players, coaches and agents across the league. can.”
Morgan spent time with the Panthers as a player, was the No. 11 pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, made the Pro Bowl in 2004, and played seven seasons in Carolina, recording the 10th-most tackles in franchise history (390 total), making him extremely popular. Successful. .
Morgan played from 2001 to 2007, and after a few years away from the game, he began working in the Seattle Seahawks' scouting department. He worked in the front office from 2010 to 2017 and was traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2018.
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After three seasons in upstate New York, Morgan returned to the Panthers as assistant GM.
He now takes the reins of an organization desperately trying to reinvent itself after a disastrous season under head coach Frank Reich, who was fired midway through his first year.
That will be Morgan's next move, as the Panthers need to bring in another head coach who can change the dynamic on the field.
“Dan brings deep knowledge of our football talent and a clear vision to take us where we all want to go,” Panthers owner David Tepper said in the team's official hiring announcement. “There is,” he said. “We know he will attack this opportunity with the same intensity he did with the Panthers.”
Carolina Panthers linebacker Dan Morgan plays defense against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 6, 2005 in Tampa. The Panthers defeated the Bucks 34-14. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
What Morgan is able to build on is a defense that has continually improved game after game despite his overall performance. Players like Pro Bowler Derrick Brown are pieces Morgan can build around to solidify that side of the ball.
But the onus is on rookie quarterback Bryce Young to make a leap in his second year. Morgan's first order of business should be to acquire more playmakers in free agency or the NFL Draft.
Young liked to throw to veteran wideout Adam Thielen last season, but other than that, no other players stood out. Free agent Miles Sanders was supposed to be the star of the run game, but he didn't start at all during the season, leaving Chuva Hubbard to take over most of the running game.
The Panthers averaged 265.3 yards and 13.9 points per game, last in the NFL.
It may take time for Carolina to get back to playoff form, but Morgan anchors a defense that got to Super Bowl XXXVIII and knows what it takes for a team to win in this league.
Carolina Panthers' No. 55 Dan Morgan watches from the sideline before the start of a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on August 24, 2006 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Streeter Rekka/Getty Images)
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Now Morgan and the Panthers' front office can focus solely on getting the right head coach on the field before rebuilding the roster.
