NFL insider: Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper to remain patient with Matt Rhule

To say things haven’t gone according to plan for Matt Rhule in Carolina would be a massive understatement. Still, the Panthers aren’t considering a change at the moment.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Panthers owner David Tepper is deciding to remain patient with his franchise’s head coach.

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“Two tough losses to open the season have run the team’s losing streak to nine for head coach Matt Rhule dating back to 2021 — the longest in the NFL. And with the defeats have come the questions about his job status,” wrote Rapoport. “Sources informed of the Panthers’ thinking say no change is imminent for Rhule, with Panthers owner David Tepper planning to be patient rather than reactionary. But wins must come and improvement must be evident.

“With the locker room still believing in Rhule, sources informed of the Panthers’ thinking say, and with the team’s fight and effort still clear on the field, it would take an epic collapse or a horribly embarrassing outcome to alter the course. That is not to say things can’t happen this season that would change the team’s plan — just not right now.”

At the moment, the Panthers are 0-2 to begin the 2022 season, and Rhule’s overall record is 10-25 as an NFL head coach. Per Rapoport, that’s the worst record among coaches who have coached at least 20 games since 2020. Additionally, the NFL Network insider added that among active coaches with 20+ games coached since Rhule became the leader of the Panthers, the former Temple and Baylor head coach has four fewer wins than anyone else.

When the Panthers originally hired Rhule, they gave a first-time NFL head coach an unprecedented seven-year deal, along with control over the roster. However, Tepper isn’t ready to call the situation an entire bust, as he still believes in the fact that the locker room vibes have been great.

Nevertheless, the NFL is a what have you done for me lately business, and it doesn’t take much to turn a locker room. If the wins don’t begin to come more often for Matt Rhule and the Carolina Panthers, the college game could beckon him back in the near future.