Now former-Baylor head football coach Matt Rhule has become the latest head coach to make the jump from the college ranks to the professional level by accepting the head coaching job with the Carolina Panthers, according to reports.
Many thought Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley would be the next college coach to make the jump, but ESPN’s David Newton is reporting the Rhule and the Carolina Panthers have reached an agreement that would bring Matt Rhule to Carolina, working under a seven-year, $60 million contract. Details of the contract come via ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Panthers are giving former Baylor HC Matt Rhule a seven-year – seven year – deal worth $60 million that with incentives could be worth up to $70 million, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2020
Now that the Panthers have their coach, the next obvious question revolves around their quarterback. It would be safe to assume Rhule will now have a say in who he wants as his signal-caller.
Cam Newton has been the team’s franchise QB since being taken by the team with the top overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. But after a series of injuries and expensive contract that Carolina could potentially get out of, Newton’s future, especially as of late, has been in question.
Given Rhule – and Baylor’s – offensive system, Newton may be a good fit. However, the new coach wanting to hit the reset button at quarterback shouldn’t be dismissed, either.
Matt Rhule replaces the fired Ron Rivera, who has since been hired by the Washington Redskins. Before Baylor, the 44-year-old Rhule was at Temple, leading the Owls to a 10-2 record in his third season there. This past season, Baylor went 11-3 under Rhule. Just two years prior, the Bears were a 1-11 program.
Rivera was fired by the Carolina Panthers in early December.
