It’s possible the Carolina Panthers would have allowed Ron Rivera to finish out the season. However, change was inevitable; and change was made on Tuesday.
The Panthers fired the head coach after nine seasons and a 76-63-1 record. Still, he was twice named NFL AP Head Coach of the Year and took the team to a Super Bowl.
Equally important, the move probably signals wholesale changes that are to come.
#Panthers part ways with Ron Riverahttps://t.co/uXqUJpCnkq
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 3, 2019
The team’s owner David Tepper made a statement on the move:
“I believe this is the best decision for the long-term success of our team,” Tepper said in a statement. “I have a great deal of respect for Ron and the contributions he has made to this franchise and to this community. I wish him the best. I will immediately begin the search for the next head coach of the Carolina Panthers.”
Remember in the middle of November, Tepper came out publicly to say he was unhappy with the direction of the franchise. Without question, that was an alarm bell sounded an putting everyone in the Panthers organization on notice.
Now with Rivera home for the holidays, others must wonder if Cam Newton will be the next on the chopping block for Carolina.
Truly, this seems like a case of a new ownership group wanting to put their own stamp on the team. Of course this will mean new personnel and little left over from a past regime that had a fair degree of success.
