Gastonia native Fewell steps up as Panthers' interim head coach

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers are looking ahead to a future under new leadership after owner David Tepper fired head coach Ron Rivera.

The team announced the switch in leadership Tuesday and named Perry Fewell as interim head coach for the Panthers for at least the next four weeks.

[RELATED: Ron Rivera fired after 9 seasons as Panthers head coach]

It is a transition for Fewell made once before during his time with the Buffalo Bills in 2009. He was interim head coach for the final seven games of that season.

Fewell said that experience will keep him from getting overwhelmed.

"There's emotions that are involved and you have to take the emotions out of it," Fewell said. "We have to focus on the objective and so just making sure I can get the team to focus on the objective."

In the video at the top of this webpage, sports director Phil Orban takes a look at the Gaston County native who, up until Tuesday, served as the team’s secondary coach.

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Cox Media Group