Dave Canales of the Carolina Panthers has decided not to keep Thomas Brown on as the offensive coordinator.
The offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers from the previous season will not continue with the team. Thomas Brown, who joined Carolina in the 2023 offseason with high expectations, will not be on Dave Canales’ coaching staff in 2024, as confirmed by a source to The Charlotte Observer on Saturday. This decision follows shortly after it was announced that special teams coordinator and interim coach Chris Tabor, along with offensive line coach James Campen, will also not return. During this offseason, Brown interviewed for the head coaching position with the Tennessee Titans and had interviews for offensive coordinator positions with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, and New England Patriots. The Panthers have expressed interest in interviewing Buccaneers wide receivers coach Brad Idzik and Eagles senior offensive assistant Marcus Brady for the offensive coordinator position, as previously reported by The Observer. Brown, aged 37, was a significant addition to the coaching staff led by Frank Reich in 2023. He was recognized among the top five coordinators in a study by the NFL Players Association conducted in the fall. However, the Panthers’ struggling offense, which faced challenges such as an injured offensive line and underperforming playmakers, led to his short tenure in Carolina. The Panthers, finishing the 2023 regular season with a 2-15 record, ranked 31st in points per game (13.9), last in yards per game (265.3), and 30th in quarterback sack percentage (10%), according to Team Rankings. Bryce Young, the first overall pick in the previous year’s NFL Draft, had 2,877 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, with a QBR of 33.3. Brown had the opportunity to call plays during two separate periods last season. He took on the role in mid-October after Reich allowed him to do so when the team started 0-6. Brown’s play-calling notably contributed to a game-winning field goal against the Houston Texans, securing the Panthers’ first win. Reich resumed play-calling duties in November, but when Reich was dismissed, Brown resumed the responsibilities for the final six games of the season. Before joining Carolina, Brown spent three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, including the 2021 Super Bowl season, where he served as the running backs coach. He was part of an offense that ranked seventh in the NFL in points scored. Prior to his NFL experience, he served as an offensive coordinator for the Miami Hurricanes in college football.
