The Carolina Panthers interview list contained some notable omissions when first released. When the Panthers first released their list of coaching candidates, Bill Belichick had yet to be released from the New England Patriots and Jim Harbaugh was preparing for the National Championship game. As such, it was understandable that they would not be on the initial list of interviewees. There was still a chance Belichick remained with the Patriots. Harbaugh accepting interviews would have been a major distraction for his team.
Two weeks into the interview process, Belichick and Harbaugh remain off the list. They are seemingly two of the finalists for the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. Why did they never top the Panthers coaching candidate list?
Why Are the Carolina Panthers Not Interviewing Bill Belichick and Jim Harbaugh?
There has been no indication that the Panthers have targeted Belichick or Harbaugh. Their head coach tracker never mentions either coach. Additionally, there have been no media stories, rumors, or leaks suggesting that the Panthers reached out to Belichick or Harbaugh and were denied. No interviews have taken place. Whether owner David Tepper reached out to the pair remains a mystery.
With eight coaching vacancies this off-season, there is plenty of competition for quality coaches. As for the Panthers, they have been touted as one of the least appealing landing spots. Mike Sando of The Athletic ranked them the least desirable coaching opening. It stands to reason that Belichick and Harbaugh were asked for interviews but declined. For Bill Belichick, the calculation is clear. His goal is to become the winningest coach in NFL history. Counting playoff victories, he needs 15 wins to overtake Don Shula’s win record. The Panthers need a full overhaul, which could take several years. Belichick needs wins now. Additionally, Belichick is used to having plenty of sway in the order of operations. David Tepper has become known as one of the more involved owners in the NFL. Belichick is unlikely to want a job that may not result in wins where he feels the owner is interfering.
It’s Complicated
Harbaugh is a more complicated question. Seemingly, he has wanted an entry into the NFL for the past several seasons. For most people, they would take the opportunity and run with it. But Harbaugh can be patient. He is making plenty of money at Michigan. If an NFL role does not work out this year, he can just return and proceed as usual.
Harbaugh also has the interest of teams with more established rosters than the Panthers. For example, the Los Angeles Chargers are pursuing Harbaugh. The decision between starting fresh with a young roster or diving in mid-stream with a quarterback of Justin Herbert’s caliber is easy.
Should Panthers Fans be Disappointed?
It is easy to gaze longingly at the Atlanta Falcons as they pursue a big splash at the head coach position. But are the Carolina Panthers better off not interviewing Belichick and Harbaugh?
Bill Belichick has a much clearer time clock on him than most. It is no secret that he is on the verge of retirement. Once he achieves his remaining goals, he is likely out and whoever hires him is back in the same place.
The Panthers need stability. More importantly, Bryce Young needs stability. Having a coach come in for a short stint could limit his development. Without a Superbowl win during that span, it could be all for naught.
Additionally, Belichick’s ability to oversee the development of a young quarterback has been questioned in recent years. Take Mac Jones, who in 2021 was being touted as one of the best quarterbacks of the 2021 class. Now, he is regularly getting benched and potentially played his last days as the starter.
Make a Wise Choice
He has experience overseeing the development of a young quarterback. With Colin Kaepernick in his second and third seasons, Harbaugh took the San Francisco 49ers to two consecutive NFC Championship games, including a victory in 2012.
However, his parting with the 49ers says a lot about his work style. The front office and Harbaugh did not see eye to eye, which eventually led to his downfall. Harbaugh wants to have a say in the decisions that are made. But so does David Tepper. Would a Harbaugh marriage eventually lead to similar tensions?
Time will tell if the Carolina Panthers regret not interviewing Belichick and Harbaugh. In the meantime, their focus remains on landing one of the top candidates in this coaching cycle.
Main Photo: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
