Update:
Adam Schefter reports that the Panthers are signing Baylor HC Matt Rhule to a seven-year deal worth $60 million that with incentives could be worth up to $70 million.
Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports reports that the Panthers and Baylor coach Matt Rhule are finalizing a deal for him to become their next coach.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media confirms the news and adds that the two parties are still working on details of the agreement. Rapoport says Carolina did not want Rhule to board a plane to New York for his meeting with the Giants.
Rapoport adds that Josh McDaniels was also a finalist for the Panthers’ job. However, team owner David Tepper heard enough during his trip to Waco, Texas that he wanted to close the deal.
Rhule has been a very popular name in coaches searches over the two years, so it will be interesting to see how all of this comes together for the Panthers.
The Jets had serious interest in Rhule last year, but he was reportedly unwilling to meet the team’s request to be paired with other coaches.
Rhule, 44, began his coaching career at Albright as a linebackers coach back in 1998. He worked for a number of schools including Buffalo, Western Carolina, UCLA and Temple before being hired by the Giants as an assistant offensive line coach for the 2012 season.
Rhule returned to Temple as head coach in 2013 and spent four years in the position before being hired as the new head coach at Baylor in 2017.
During time has a head coach, Rhule’s teams at Temple and Baylor produced a record of 47-42 (52.8 percent) and four bowl appearances.
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