The Panthers interviewed quarterbacks coach Mike Shula for their offensive coordinator job, as they try to replace new Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski.
According to the Associated Press, Shula interviewed Wednesday, after the team already interviewed Bengals assistant Hue Jackson and fired Browns head coach Pat Shurmur.
Shula’s only other stint as a coordinator didn’t go well, as his late-90s Buccaneers were perpetually near the bottom of the league.
Shurmur seems like an odd pairing as well, having always run a West Coast offense that’s a 180 from what the Panthers have been running. Whether than sends them Jackson’s way, or they try to interview someone such as Ken Whisenhunt, finding the right fit is crucial.
Head coach Ron Rivera’s in a win-or-else year with the Panthers, but the progression of quarterback Cam Newton is more important to the direction of the franchise than any individual coach they might hire, so they need to get this one right.
UPDATE 12:53 p.m. ET: According to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer, they won’t interview any more candidates, and the job will go to one of the group of Jackson, Shurmur or Shula.