NFL owners reportedly angry over contract Panthers gave Matt Rhule

Matt Rhule said recently that he would only leave Baylor for the perfect opportunity, and the Carolina Panthers helped create that for him by making him one of the highest-paid head coaches in the NFL. Now, they may have to answer to the rest of the league’s owners.

Rhule signed a seven-year, $60 million deal with the Panthers that could be worth up to $70 million if he meets incentives. As one NFL coach told Robert Klemko of The Washington Post, other owners around the league are angry with David Tepper for shelling out so much money.

An NFC South coach, on Carolina's 7-year, $60 million contract for first-time NFL head coach Matt Rhule: "Tepper just drove the price of pork up, and I know the owners are pissed. They're gonna hurt him at the next league meetings. They might just shut him out of the room."

— Robert Klemko (@RobertKlemko) January 9, 2020

Giants owner John Mara confirmed the team would not pay the kind of money Carolina did for a first-time head coach.

Giants would NOT match Matt Rhule’s 7 year – $62M offer by the Carolina Panthers

“For a new head coach in the National Football League, I just didn’t think that was a reasonable way to go” -Giants owner John Mara@6abc pic.twitter.com/L9wUlrw2kK

— Jeff Skversky 6abc (@JeffSkversky) January 9, 2020

While there are a few coaches in the NFL who earn more than Rhule, they are accomplished and experienced ones like Bill Belichick and Sean Payton. Rhule has never been a head coach in the NFL, so other teams could be concerned that first-time coaches will now point to the deal Rhule got from Carolina and demand massive contracts.

The coaching market isn’t as straightforward as the free agent market, so Rhule’s deal could end up being the exception for a first-time coach. Still, the amount the Panthers committed to paying him is likely a source of frustration for both other team owners and black assistant coaches who feel they are not being given a fair shot at advancing in the league.

Details of Matt Rhule’s monster contract with Panthers revealed

The Carolina Panthers have agreed to a deal to hire Matt Rhule as their next head coach, and it is easy to see why Rhule was persuaded to leave Baylor.

While Rhule’s decision likely had to do with a lot more than money, he is getting a monster contract from the Panthers. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the deal is worth $60 million over seven years and could go as high as $70 million with incentives.

Panthers are giving former Baylor HC Matt Rhule a seven-year – seven year – deal worth $60 million that with incentives could be worth up to $70 million, per league sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2020

That is a massive contract by any standard, but it is particularly eye-popping for a coach with no previous NFL head coaching experience. Bill Belichick is currently believed to be the highest-paid coach in the NFL with a salary of $12 million, with Pete Carroll close behind at $11 million. Rhule’s deal places him close to the $10 million Sean Payton makes with the New Orleans Saints and Jon Gruden earns with the Oakland Raiders.

Rhule said recently that he would only leave Baylor for the perfect job in a stable organization, and it sounds like he was open to accepting at least two NFL head coaching jobs. With the amount of money the Panthers are giving him, it’s hardly a surprise he is making the leap to the pros.

Baylor went 1-11 in Rhule’s first season as head coach but improved to 7-6 last year and 11-3 this season. He will need to lead that same type of rapid turnaround in Carolina to justify his salary.

Matt Rhule hired as Panthers head coach

Matt Rhule has generated a significant amount of interest on the NFL head coaching market over the past two seasons, and the Baylor coach has finally decided to make the leap from college to the pros.

Rhule has reached an agreement to become the next head coach of the Carolina Panthers, Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports first reported.

Sources: Baylor coach Matt Rhule finalizing a deal to become next coach of the Carolina Panthers.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 7, 2020

The Panthers also had interest in New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Media adds that team owner David Tepper was sold on Rhule after meeting with him and his family on Monday.

The #Panthers had a top two of Josh McDaniels and Matt Rhule. Owner David Tepper spent yesterday in Waco with Rhule and his family, and he heard enough. Rather than risk Rhule getting on the plane, he made a deal. Rhule is now Carolina’s coach.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 7, 2020

Rhule had been in consideration for the New York Giants job as well, and there were rumblings that he was their top target. He also drew interest from the Cleveland Browns but the interest was not mutual.

Rhule said recently that he would only leave Baylor for the perfect job and what he felt was a stable organization, so he obviously believes the Panthers can provide that. That is at least somewhat surprising given their uncertain situation at the quarterback position, but Rhule is likely thinking long term.

Baylor went 1-11 in Rhule’s first season, but they improved to 7-6 last year and 11-3 this season. They lost to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl after nearly sneaking into the College Football Playoff.

Report: Matt Rhule to interview for Panthers head coach job

One team has been heavily linked to Baylor coach Matt Rhule, but he’s at least willing to sit for an interview with a second franchise.

Rhule will interview this week with the Carolina Panthers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, joining the New York Giants as a party where there appears to be mutual interest.

#Baylor head coach Matt Rhule has a big week ahead in the NFL world: He’s scheduled to interview with the #Panthers on Monday, I’m told. He has the #Giants this week, as well, and that is expected to be Tuesday. Will the coveted candidate leave college football?

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 4, 2020

Rhule has been very picky about his openings, so this is good news for Carolina. He may ultimately prefer the opportunity with the Giants, but if he’s at least willing to talk to the Panthers, they presumably have a chance.

Rhule has gone 19-20 at Baylor, but he took a program that went 1-11 in his first season there to 11 wins in 2019. He’s highly regarded in NFL circles, and this isn’t his first chance to take a pro job.

Report: Kevin Stefanski set to meet with Browns, Panthers over coaching jobs

Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski’s market is heating up, and two teams are interested in speaking to him.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, Stefanski is set to meet with the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers over their vacant head coach jobs. With the Vikings playing a playoff game in New Orleans on Sunday afternoon, the exact timing is unclear and depends on how that game goes for Minnesota.

#Vikings OC Kevin Stefanski is slated to interview for the #Browns and #Panthers head coaching openings next week, source said. Timing will depend in part on what happens tomorrow vs. the #Saints. He was a finalist in Cleveland last year, too.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 4, 2020

Only seven teams scored more points than the Vikings did this year, and Stefanski has been credited with helping Kirk Cousins become more efficient. Both Cleveland and Carolina seem interested in offensive minds, so he also fits the bill. The biggest issue will likely be timing, particularly if the Vikings win Sunday and keep going in the playoffs.

Eric Bieniemy receiving interest from Giants, Panthers

The Kansas City Chiefs have boasted one of the league’s best offenses for the last two years, and the man coordinating it may be rewarded with a head coaching gig as a result.

Eric Bieniemy, who has served in the role since prior to the 2018 season, has been the subject of interview requests from both the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Giants have requested permission to interview Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy for their head-coaching job, per source. Panthers also have requested interview for Bieniemy.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 30, 2019

Thought the offense dropped from first in both points and yardage this season, they were still fifth and sixth in those respective categories. The 50-year-old has overseen the offense that Patrick Mahomes has thrived in, and that alone makes him an enticing coaching candidate. A former NFL running back and Heisman Trophy finalist, he has served as a running backs coach for various teams, along with a two-year stint in college as Colorado’s offensive coordinator.

Bieniemy will have a lot of competitors for both roles. The Giants, in particular, may be able to attract one of the hotter college coaches on the market.

Report: Mike McCarthy impressed Panthers, got second interview

Mike McCarthy is among a list of potential head coaching candidates with whom the Carolina Panthers have already spoken, and he may be emerging as an early frontrunner for the job.

McCarthy interviewed with the Panthers following their game against the Indianapolis Colts last week, and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that he has had two interviews with the team. Rapoport also notes that McCarthy “did very well.”

The Panthers have some other big names on their list as well, but they need to wait a bit before they can interview them. Josh McDaniels will once again be a hot name in head coaching talks, and Carolina would like to interview him. They are also interested in Baylor head coach Matt Rhule, who is preparing to take on Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.

McCarthy and Panthers owner David Tepper both hail from Pittsburgh, and Tepper has deep ties to the city. McCarthy has an impressive 125-77-2 record as an NFL head coach, and he won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers. There were some unflattering reports about him after he parted ways with the team, but it would not be a surprise if he lands another head coaching job for 2020.