Matt Rhule is expected to be named head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
According to multiple reports Tuesday, Rhule agreed to take the job and will be introduced this week.
The Panthers went 5-11 and fired head coach Ron Rivera before the 2019 season ended. Rivera landed on his feet as head coach of the Washington Redskins.
Rhule, the Baylor head coach, was a top candidate in the latest NFL coaching cycle after surfacing as a popular name in January 2018. He interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts before pulling his name from consideration then.
In Rhule’s third season at Baylor, the Bears went 11-3 in 2019. They were 1-11 his first year in Waco.
There are big questions ahead in Carolina, the most prominent of which is the future of quarterback Cam Newton. Newton was hurt in the third game of the preseason against the New England Patriots and attempted to play through a foot injury before being shut down and having surgery. Newton is 68-55-1 as a starting quarterback but the former No. 1 pick reportedly is open to a trade after Kyle Allen played well in Newton’s absence.
Rhule, 44, declined to interview this month for the vacancy with the Cleveland Browns but did sit down with the Panthers and New York Giants.
Rhule was an assistant offensive line coach for the Giants in 2012, but otherwise has no NFL coaching experience.
