Dave Canales announces expected decision at the NFL Combine that will be best for him and the Panthers offense in 2026
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales is, in fact, handing over offensive play-calling duties.
The Carolina Panthers didn’t have much staff shakeup during the NFL coaching cycle going into 2026 but the team will be making one key coaching change that fans have been begging for all season long.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales confirmed on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that he will be handing over offensive play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik. It’s a major decision for Canales to finally make, but it’s the best decision for the future of this team and the offense.
Dave Canales made the right choice handing over offensive play-calling duties
Canales and Idzik both joined the team in 2024 to elevate the offense and maximize the rookie window of quarterback Bryce Young. Canales served as the team’s primary offensive play-caller during the regular season with Idzik assisting in creating the play designs during the week.
Next season will look different with Canales aiming to take a more team-focused role on gamedays with Idzik getting full control of an offense for the first time in his coaching career.
“This is something that all of us collectively have talked about as an organization. It was my idea to come up with this,” Canales explained. “. . .[Idzik’s] continuity with the system, his continuity with the players, being able to do that, I believe will be the best thing for us moving forward.”
Multiple times this past season, Canales’ decision-making on game day was called into question, both involving the offense and other aspects of the team. At the same time, Canales led the Panthers to the team’s first division title since 2015 but with an offense that took a step back after being ranked 27th in scoring.
Idzik taking the reigns is a necessary change for the Panthers and for Canales to give himself more security in his role as the team’s head coach. The writing was on the wall for this move when the Panthers brought veteran offensive coach Darrell Bevell on the staff a few weeks back.
Bevell has extensive experience as an offensive coordinator and history working with Canales during their time in Seattle. He will serve as the sounding board for Idzik and help design the offensive plays.
This will be a pivotal season for the Panthers offense with Young entering into his fourth season as the team’s quarterback with a looming extension in consideration after next season. It’s put up or shut up time for Canales and Young to prove they’re what’s best for this organization and this is a big first step toward changing things.
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