In a shocking turn of events, Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales has been hired by the Carolina Panthers to become their head coach, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Canales goes from revamping the Bucs offense to taking over a project with quarterback Bryce Young on a division rival in the NFC South.

With up to eight teams looking to find their next head coach, Canales had just finished up his second interview with the Panthers on Tuesday. New Carolina general manager Dan Morgan was with Dave Canales for eight years in the Seahawks’ organization from 2010-2017 in the personnel department and had first-hand familiarity and understanding to what Canales will bring the Panthers.

Why Dave Canales Was Hired To Be The Panthers Head Coach

Though it is surprising for a first-year play-caller to immediately take a leap to become an NFL head coach, if there was anyone that could do it, it was Dave Canales. Canales is known for his upbeat and energetic attitude and constantly preaches positivity. The improvement the Bucs had on offense also certainly helped paved the way.

Bucs OC Dave Canales and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Canales came in with a new offensive system from Seattle and teamed up with new quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Bucs improved their average points per game from a year ago, increasing it from 18.2 points per game in 2022 to averaging 20.5 points per game, while also improving the run game.

Mayfield had a career resurgence, throwing for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions. The offense also saw better production from Mike Evans, who had 79 catches, 1,255 receiving yards, which were his most since 2018, and 13 touchdowns. The 13 scores by Evans tied Tyreek Hall for the most receiving touchdowns in the league this season.

After getting the best out of Geno Smith in Seattle and Baker Mayfield in a new spot in Tampa, Dave Canales will attempt to get Bryce Young’s career off the ground after a tough rookie season. Carolina does not have a lot of offensive weapons around Young or a first-round pick, so there’s a lot of work to do. Plus, Canales will face the Bucs twice a season.

What Does This Mean For The Bucs?

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and offensive coordinator Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The move by Dave Canales changes a lot for the offseason in Tampa Bay. The Bucs already have their focus on attempting to re-sign Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans along with several stars on defense, but now also have to find a new offensive play-caller. The odds are that Dave Canales will take wide receivers coach Brad Idzik with him to Carolina, and he may potentially become their offensive coordinator with Canales retaining play-calling duties. They’ve been friends since Seattle and have a very close relationship.

Head coach Todd Bowles can hire in-house if he wants to. The likely candidate would be quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis, who’s spent time in two different offensive systems now under Byron Leftwich and Dave Canales. The fact that Lewis stayed in Tampa Bay after Leftwich’s firing speaks to his importance and what Bowles thinks of him.

If the Bucs don’t make an in-house hire, there will be a long round of interviews once again. Bowles hit on his hiring of Canales last offseason. Can he do it again this time one offseason later?

The Panthers have a quarterback set with Bryce Young so there’s no worry of Mayfield teaming up with his play-caller. That doesn’t guarantee Mayfield will be back with the Bucs though, and it makes it more interesting of what this means for Evans. It’s evident that Evans wants to get paid, but also play for a winning team. Whether the Bucs take a step back with a new offense will only be answered in the coming months.

However it shakes out, Pewter Report will have all the coverage of the Bucs’ next moves.