Could the Cowboys have some competition in store for Sean Payton?
It could seem so.
The Carolina Panthers fired their head coach Matt Rhule Monday morning and are now searching for someone new to lead the team while defensive coordinator Steve Wilks takes the reins for the time being.
Wilks could end up getting the job if he can turn things around for the Panthers, but right now, former Saints head coach Sean Payton is likely at the top of their list, according to reports by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The Panthers are a division rival of the Saints, and they have his rights until 2024, so it doesn’t seem likely that they would release him to someone in the division. Crazier things have happened, though.
The Carolina Panthers fired head coach Matt Rhule on Monday, and anytime a job in the NFL becomes vacant, one name almost immediately pops up—former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton.
He appeared on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Monday and gave his thoughts on the opening.
“I think it’s attractive,” he said.
The big question for the Panthers moving forward won’t just be the next head coach, with Steve Wilks serving as the interim head coach. It will also be who the team brings in to be the next quarterback.
Baker Mayfield will be a free agent after the 2022 season and has struggled in five games, throwing for 962 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions while completing just 54.9 percent of his passes.
So while the Panthers job may have its upsides, the quarterback situation is a question mark.
“Whoever’s next at Carolina is looking at that,” Payton told Cowherd. “Is it in the draft? Do we have a hold-the-fort guy in free agency until we find it in the draft? Or is there a guy we like in free agency that we feel can be a good player?”
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