The Carolina Panthers are planning to hire 32-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers coach Brad Idzik as their new offensive coordinator, ESPN reported Tuesday.
Idzik would rejoin former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who was named head coach of the Panthers last week. They also worked together with the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Bucs’ staff in 2023.
Idzik’s Buccaneers unit produced two 1,000-yard receivers this season. Mike Evans caught 79 passes for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns and Chris Godwin had 83 grabs for 1,024 yards and two scores.
Idzik would replace Thomas Brown, the offensive coordinator on former head coach Frank Reich’s staff. Carolina finished 2-15 in 2023 under Reich and interim coach Chris Tabor.
The Panthers ranked 31st in the NFL in scoring (13.9 points per game) and 32nd in total offense (265.3 yards per game) with 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick Bryce Young at quarterback.
Idzik was on Pete Carroll’s coaching staff in Seattle for four seasons as an assistant wide receivers coach (2019-20, 2022) and offensive quality control/assistant quarterbacks coach (2021).
