(Photo courtesy of the New York Post) “Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule.”
Tanner Hume
Connector Editor
After a 1-4 start to the season for his team, the Carolina Panthers have fired head coach Matt Rhule. During his time in Carolina he went 11-27 and proved to be an ineffective coach overall. However, he is still owed over $40 million from an extension he signed with the team a couple of years ago.
What makes this firing interesting is not that of the firing itself, since teams often need that change in the locker room, but when players get cut or have their contracts terminated before their contract ends. In the cases of players’ contracts being terminated, they aren’t owed anything if that happens, whereas coaches or any other front office management that gets fired will be paid the full amount of their contract.
This is an example of financial inequality in the NFL. Coaches that are fired are paid all the money in their contract, whereas players that get cut are forced to fend for themselves and will not see another penny from that contract, regardless of any pleas. This really brings out the corporate greed in franchises and how they value their players.
It is no secret that the contract structure for coaches are a lot different than the contract structure of a player. But how exactly is it different? A player’s contract is an agreement signed by both the player and the organization in which the player is paid based on his talent and what he can bring to the team. Sometimes, these contracts are practice squad-only contracts which means they are not obligated to attend or play in games. This is unlike the standard contract in which a player is required to follow all team rules and attend all team games unless suspended or instructed otherwise due to injury. If that player fails to meet the demands of the team he is terminated and no longer will be paid.
On the other hand, a coach’s contract is also an agreement signed between the coach and the organization. But unlike the standard player’s contract the coach has a lot more pressure as he is trusted to put together a coaching squad capable of bringing success to his team. Also their work entails making recommendations to the general manager (unless the coach is also the GM, in the case of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick) and ensuring his team is performing at their highest level and potential. While a player’s contract is based on their playing ability, a coach’s contract is based on overall team performance and record for that season. When the coach is fired they are supposed to get the remaining money on their contract.
In a player’s contract, the contract outlines that the player will not be getting paid upon their termination in compliance with the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement and salary cap. Coaches have a clause agreed upon by the NFL and the NFLCA (National Football League Coaches Association) that will allow the coach to get paid the remaining amount of money he is owed.
This is a systematic problem because someone as bad of a coach as Matt Rhule struggled to run their team, and yet now, he is getting paid by the Panthers to not coach; Rhule will still get the remaining $40 million that he is owed, whereas a player like former Cowboys quarterback Ben DiNucci, can get cut and is not owed a penny more.
As for the Panthers, their interim head coach is Steve Wilks, who was serving as the team’s defensive passing game coordinator. The last time Wilks was an NFL head coach was back in 2018 with the Arizona Cardinals, where he only lasted one season, going 3-13 in the process. If Carolina is trying to tank, it has now become very apparent. Wide receiver Robbie Anderson and franchise running back Christian McCaffery have been dealt to other teams, with wide receiver D.J. Moore set to be next on the chopping block.
The Panthers needed to make this firing badly, and they had no choice. With a 1-4 record at the time of the firing, the Panthers will now turn their focus towards a full-on rebuild with hopes of landing a high pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. A new era has dawned over Carolina, and maybe it is truly what they needed. Only time will tell.
