CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CHARLOTTE SPORTS LIVE) — The Carolina Panthers have tabbed a young wide receivers coach from Tampa Bay as its next offensive coordinator, according to ESPN.
Brad Idzik, 32, and son of former Jets GM John Idzik Jr., joins the Panthers after having spent a year in Tampa Bay, a playoff team that exited with a 31-23 loss to the Lions in the NFC title game. Idzik joins head coach Dave Canales, both having spent time together in Seattle and Tampa Bay. The Panthers’ current defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero, is in the midst of interviewing for vacant head coaching positions and his return is uncertain at the moment.
Canales was recently named Panthers head coach after being the offensive coordinator in Tampa. This is Canales’ first opportunity as head coach in the NFL.
Idzik has ties to the Carolinas having played for and graduated from Wake Forest. He was an assistant coach at Stanford for five years. In Seattle, he received accolades for helping with the development of both WRs Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, and QB Russell Wilson, who threw for over 3,100 yards during Idzik’s one year as assistant QB’s coach.
Meanwhile, Canales and new GM Dan Morgan will both be introduced during a Thursday news conference at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
The news conference will be broadcast live on Queen City News and livestreamed at QCnews.com starting at 10 a.m. Thursday.
