Panthers Part Ways with Passing Game Coordinator Nate Carroll

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers have dismissed passing game coordinator Nate Carroll, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Friday. Carroll, the son of former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, spent one season on the Panthers’ staff under head coach Dave Canales.

Carroll’s departure marks the fourth coaching change since the Panthers concluded their 5-12 season. Outside linebackers coach Tem Lukabu, safeties coach Bert Watts, and defensive quality control coach Bobby Maffei were also let go last week. Speculation about Carroll’s future had been circulating, coinciding with his father’s consideration for head coaching roles with the Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders.

Nate Carroll joined the Panthers after 14 years on his father’s staff in Seattle, where he held various roles, primarily on the offensive side. He was among several former Seahawks assistants who followed Canales to Carolina after Canales’ one-year stint as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ offensive coordinator.

Under Canales’ guidance, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young showed significant improvement late in the season. Canales had previously helped revitalize the careers of Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay and Geno Smith in Seattle. The Panthers’ coaching staff also includes offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, QB coach Will Harriger, and senior assistant Jim Caldwell, all of whom have extensive experience working with quarterbacks.

Despite Young’s progress, the Panthers’ passing offense ranked 28th in DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) and 17th in EPA/dropback (Expected Points Added per dropback) after Young regained the starting role. The team’s 44-point performance to eliminate the Atlanta Falcons from playoff contention was not enough to secure Carroll’s position.

Before joining the Panthers, Carroll spent his entire NFL coaching career with the Seahawks, serving in roles ranging from defensive assistant to senior offensive assistant. His future in the league may now depend on whether his father, Pete Carroll, secures another head coaching position.