Panthers

Panthers Name Marty Hurney Interim GM For 2017 Season

July 19, 2017

Update:

The Carolina Panthers officially announced that they’ve hired Marty Hurney as their new interim GM.

Panthers owner Jerry Richardson said of the move:

“Marty is the perfect person to help us in the interim. He worked with us for 15 years and understands the culture we have here. He had a lot to do with the core of our team being in place. I’m thankful that he is willing to help us in this transition period.”

“I never lost the connection with the organization,” Hurney said. “I’ve gained a lot of perspective and have looked at things in different ways. I think I can help this team in a lot of areas. I think I’ve grown. And I feel I’m better prepared to come in this time and do a better job than I did over the 12 years I was general manager last time.”

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Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Panthers are, in fact, finalizing a deal to hire former GM Marty Hurney as their new interim GM.

Yesterday, Tom Pelissero reported that Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and Hurney were meeting and that if all went well, Carolina was expected to name Hurney interim GM, so this shouldn’t come as a big surprise.

Pelissero added that the plan would be for Hurney to run team in 2017 and use next six months or so vet potential full-time candidates for the job.

According to Albert Breer, the Panthers have discussed a temporary power structure that would keep Ron Rivera in place as the team’s head coach, Rob Rogers as their cap guru and someone like Hurney to operate as their scouting chief.

After the Panthers surprisingly fired GM Dave Gettleman on Monday, the idea was floated about possibly bringing Hurney back on an interim basis, given that this isn’t the best time of year to be looking for a new general manager.

Hurney previously spent 11 years as the Panthers GM before he was fired after the 2012 season and replaced by Gettleman. Over the course of his tenure with the team, Hurney led the Panthers to a record of 90-102 with three playoff appearances including a trip to the Super Bowl in 2003.