Carolina Panthers hire familiar face as new general manager

CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers have hired their new general manager, the team announced.

On Monday, the team named Dan Morgan as the president of football operations and general manager. Morgan most recently served as the team’s assistant general manager, serving in that role since 2021.

Morgan, a former linebacker, was drafted 11th overall by the Panthers in the first round of the NFL draft. Morgan played seven seasons for the Panthers, the team said.

He racked up 25 tackles in the 2003 Super Bowl, which is a record.

Morgan went on to join the New Orleans Saints in 2008 but his injuries forced him into early retirement.

He has relationships with coaches and players throughout the NFL, the team website says.

The new GM knows the current roster and knows what the team wants to do to move forward.

“Dan has a thorough knowledge of our football personnel and a clear vision to take us where we all want to go,” Panthers owner David Tepper said in a statement on panthers.com. “We know he will attack this opportunity with the same intensity he did as a Panthers player.”

One of Morgan’s main responsibilities is to help develop quarterback Bryce Young, the team said.

“He’s special,” Morgan said going into the preseason of Young’s rookie year. “He has the pocket presence, he has the poise, he has the accuracy, the anticipation, he has all those things you want,” Morgan said. “And this isn’t Bryce’s show. He’s not doing this alone. We’re not dependent on him to go out and make every single play. This isn’t something he has to do alone, and it’s not all on his shoulders.”

Other changes

When the team announced the move Monday, there was a key phrase in their announcement. The Panthers said they’re now making changes to the front office. On Tuesday, a team spokesman confirmed one key executive, Samir Suleiman, is not with the team anymore. He was in charge of managing the salary cap and negotiating player contracts.

Suleiman’s role is presumably now another key opening for someone who will work directly with Dan Morgan.

As for the Panthers’ open head coach position, the team could officially interview some of their candidates in-person. Joe Person with The Athletic reported another in-house candidate, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, had his second interview with the panthers on Monday.

Per NFL rules, we know of at least three candidates who cannot interview in person until next Monday. That includes quite a few of the hot names in this hiring cycle: The Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, the Ravens’ offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and their defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

The Lions and the Ravens are still very much in the hunt and just one game shy of the Super Bowl. The Panthers ownership has made it clear that’s certainly the goal here, between the new general manager and the head-coach-to-be.

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