Dave Canales Makes Bold Claim For Panthers 2025 Season

Seven straight losing seasons. A 5-12 finish in 2024. For Carolina Panthers fans, patience is running out. Head coach Dave Canales is back for Year 2, and he’s not shying away from the pressure. In fact, he’s leaning into it

“I think the sky’s the limit for this group,” Canales told reporters on July 23. “I think this is going to be a very competitive team. I don’t think people are going to want to play us by the style of football that we play. I’m expecting that. My expectations are really high for this group.”

This is a coach who believes the Panthers finally have a foundation: an identity built on toughness, culture, and accountability. Canales thinks this team knows who it is now. And more importantly, he believes it’s ready to play like it.

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Something New in Carolina

What does this new identity actually look like? According to Canales, it starts with toughness. And on Day 1 of camp, that vision came to life.

During the final play of the opening practice, rookie edge rusher Princely Umanmielen charged through and strip-sacked Bryce Young. The coaches didn’t flinch cause that was exactly the tone they wanted.

“You can feel the shift,” said veteran guard Robert Hunt, one of the Panthers’ key free agent additions. “This city has a lot of hope… It felt like we were doing something great, because the city is looking for it.”

This is also a different Canales. 

Last year, he was building from scratch. Now, he’s got a roster he knows. “It feels a lot different knowing that I have a group of leaders that have my back,” he said.

One of those leaders is Bryce Young. And while his first two seasons were a little rough, Canales’ decision to mostly ride with him through it earned respect inside the locker room. In a league where coaches often bail fast, that kind of loyalty sends a message: we’re building this together.

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Can Bryce Young Deliver on the Hype?

Of course, no matter how strong the culture is, everything in the NFL still runs through the quarterback. And in Carolina, it’s still all about Bryce Young.

The 2023 No. 1 overall pick showed real signs of progress down the stretch in 2024, closing the season with a 111.6 passer rating, seven touchdowns, and zero picks over his final three games. 

GM Dan Morgan praised his daily effort: “The passion for the game is evident every single day he’s out there.”

Offensively, Canales is tailoring the system more around Young’s strengths. The Panthers are leaning into quicker tempos, more rhythm-based throws, and defined reads that allow Young to process fast and get the ball out early, something he excelled at in college.

Look, no one’s hanging a “Mission Accomplished” banner just yet. The Panthers still have holes. Injuries are already lurking (tight end Tommy Tremble won’t be practicing for weeks), and they haven’t played a real snap yet.

But something feels different this summer in Carolina. So here’s the question:Are the Panthers finally turning the corner this season? Or is it just another rebuild disguised as momentum?

 

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