New look Panthers coach Dave Canales gets praise from former quarterback he helped revitalize
When the Carolina Panthers hired Dave Canales, it was a move that made sense on paper. Canales has a history of rebuilding struggling quarterbacks and their careers. He did so with Geno Smith in Seattle. And he followed that model with Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. Now, the Panthers are asking him to do more […]
When the Carolina Panthers hired Dave Canales, it was a move that made sense on paper.
Canales has a history of rebuilding struggling quarterbacks and their careers. He did so with Geno Smith in Seattle. And he followed that model with Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. Now, the Panthers are asking him to do more of the same with Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall draft pick who struggled through a disappointing rookie season.
The good news is Canales received some much-needed validation from Mayfield, who placed the 42-year-old coach in rare air in a recent interview.
“He’s an unbelievable guy,” Mayfield said. "The first guy I’ve ever been around that shows up with the same positive attitude every single day, and it doesn’t waver at all. They’re gonna get a guy that his infectious personality—it’s gonna go throughout the building.”
Not many people in the NFL have emotions that float above the wins and the losses. Canales appears to be one of them.
It is that cool and calm demeanor that saved Mayfield's career in 2023. He threw for career-highs in completion percentage (64.3), passing yards (4,044) and passing touchdowns (28) while leading the Buccaneers to a third straight NFC South title.
Before that, Canales help Smith break through the glass ceiling. With Young, he will try and do the same.
Already Canales stated that he is excited to work with Young. He explained that for success, he wants to build a great working relationship with the soon-to-be second-year signal caller.
"The more that I got ready for this interview, started watching Bryce, looking at my notes from his [pre-draft] eval … I just got more and more fired up about the opportunity to have this amazing talent,'' said Canales, who was given a six-year deal a week ago when hired.
"And he's the guy. He's the right guy that you all talk about when you have that quarterback, that save-the-franchise type of player. And that got me excited.''
Mayfield has seen Canales' success firsthand. Now the former Panthers quarterback will be watching him rehabilitate Young's ailing career from Tampa Bay.
NFL legend shows he still has belief in Bryce Young despite his awful rookie season for the Panthers
When Bryce Young finished his rookie season with a 2-14 record, several jumped off his bandwagon.
