The Carolina Panthers have fired Matt Rhule after 38 games with the franchise. Rhule was let go after the Panthers suffered a 22-point loss to the San Francisco 49ers and fell to 1-4 through five games.
Matt Rhule joined the Carolina Panthers in January 2020 after a sub-500 run at Baylor University through three seasons. After securing a seven-year, $62 million contract, Rhule kicked off his first season with a 5-11 record and a third-place finish in the NFC South. One year later, he led Carolina to a 5-12 record and a fourth-place finish in the NFC South. This year, the Panthers have shot out to a 1-4 start with Baker Mayfield at the helm. Through five games, Carolina has the 32nd-ranked offense and 18th-ranked defense.
The Carolina Panthers will not only have to deal with the loss of their head coach, but it will also have to move forward without its starting quarterback. Baker Mayfield suffered an unspecified injury late in the second half of Sunday’s game against the 49ers. Shortly thereafter, P.J. Walker stepped in to finish the game and Mayfield spoke to reporters while wearing a walking boot.
“A little painful right now,” Mayfield said about his injury.
“I’m not real sure exactly what it is. We’ll examine that tomorrow and find out. So right now I’m managing the pain and learning to step in the boot.”
Without Rhule and potentially Mayfield, the Panthers will head out to Los Angeles for a 4:25 p.m. EST showdown with the Rams.
Panthers fired HC Matt Rhule, who has gone 11-27 during his three seasons in Carolina.
Rhule leaves Carolina with four years left on the seven-year contract he received from Panthers’ owner David Tepper in January 2020.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 10, 2022
