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The long national nightmare for Carolina Panthers’ fans is finally over.
The team announced on Twitter Monday morning that it has fired head coach Matt Rhule after a 37-15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday that dropped Carolina’s record to 1-4 on the season.
#Panthers part ways with head coach Matt Rhulehttps://t.co/ihOk3QJsvH
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 10, 2022
Rhule ends his tenure in Carolina with an 11-27 record and a .289 winning percentage.
The 2022 season always figured to be “make or break” for Rhule with the Panthers. The organization acquired quarterback Baker Mayfield in a trade with the Cleveland Browns over the offseason. But Mayfield has had little success. He’s thrown for just 964 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions through five starts.
That led Rhule to put the QB on notice just a week ago, but now he won’t be around to make that decision. Rhule himself has come under a lot of scrutiny this season. Much of which came from the media, including ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky. Orlovsky called out Rhule and offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo for an apparent tell in the Panthers’ offensive formations. But Rhule disputed that fact and clapped back at Orlovsky in a recent press conference.
Now it appears Orlovksy, and Panthers fans will have the last laugh. Fans were overjoyed by the news of Rhule’s dismissal on Monday.
Panthers Fans Celebrate As Team Finally Cuts Ties With Matt Rhule
Thank God. https://t.co/NN8VZaskWy pic.twitter.com/2taTHbDixW
— Jarve Narcisse (@JarveNarcisse) October 10, 2022
This is a fantastic Monday 😍 https://t.co/ltMs3CRTPG pic.twitter.com/jxagXS0GE7
— Dan Edgoose (@DanielEdgoose38) October 10, 2022
https://twitter.com/rfthebassist/status/1579493658046664706?s=20&t=kYDStiqcNBhP7Eo-vR1dSQ
https://twitter.com/BigCheeseTC/status/1579492224475463680?s=20&t=kYDStiqcNBhP7Eo-vR1dSQ
https://twitter.com/hornetsbruh/status/1579492164102676480?s=20&t=kYDStiqcNBhP7Eo-vR1dSQ
Panthers’ assistant coach Steve Wilks takes over as the team’s interim head coach.
Charlotte native and longtime #Panthers assistant coach Steve Wilks named interim head coach. pic.twitter.com/kHkpIWEY06
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 10, 2022
Wilks was previously an assistant coach in Carolina from 2012-17 before taking the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job. But Wilks lasted just one year in Arizona after drafting Josh Rosen with the 10th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
He then served as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns and the University of Missouri before returning to Carolina this season.
Wilks has his work cut out for him going forward. But it appears the organization is likely looking outside the building for a hire after the season.