Bryce Young is heading into a pivotal fourth season with the Carolina Panthers, and one of the more unexpected voices backing him is a former general manager who knows the organization well.
Marty Hurney, who was fired twice by Carolina - first in 2012 and then again in 2020 - told Casino.us’ Jason La Canfora that he believes Young still has a real future with the Panthers. Hurney pointed to head coach Dave Canales as a major reason for that confidence.
“He has really gotten a feel for Bryce Young’s skill set and what he does best. I think Dave really believes in the quarterback, and I do too. You know I really liked the kid coming out, and if you put the right people around him, you can win with Bryce Young.”
That kind of praise stands out because of how Hurney’s own run with Carolina ended. His final exit came after the Panthers dropped eight straight games, and his departure was tied to a mismatch with former head coach Matt Rhule. Even so, Hurney sounded upbeat about where the franchise is now, and there was no trace of bitterness in his comments.
Young is still trying to settle the debate around his game. He’s had some good moments and some rough ones in Carolina, but the door is still open for him to change the conversation.
He enters 2026 under plenty of pressure, with a contract extension and his long-term future as the team’s franchise quarterback hanging in the balance. The Panthers, for their part, have put together a roster that looks more complete than it has in years.
Hurney also singled out another player who could matter a lot to Carolina’s offense: running back Jonathon Brooks. Brooks is finally healthy heading into 2026 after suffering two ACL tears in the same knee, and Hurney sounded especially high on the former Texas back.
“The kid they took out of Texas a few years ago, Brooks, is going to be a really good back for them,” Hurney said. “He’s the one to keep an eye on.
I think the kid has a chance to be a lot better than Dowdle was last year. I think he’s better than (veteran Panthers RB Chuba) Hubbard, too.”
Panthers fans may not be ready to buy all the way in on Brooks yet, and that hesitation makes sense. But if he can stay on the field and gradually handle more work, his burst and upside give Carolina something worth watching.
In Other News...
Bryce Young Debate Just Took Another Turn For Panthers Fans
Bryce Youngs future in Carolina has been one of the leagues most debated quarterback topics, and the conversation got another push this week when former Panthers general manager Marty Hurney voiced confidence in the former No. 1 pick. Youngs record as a starter has left plenty of room for skepticism, but he has also piled up more than 8,000 passing yards and 49 touchdowns since arriving in Carolina, enough production to keep the argument alive about what he can become with the right support around him.
Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik added to that optimism by pointing to Youngs competitiveness and his ability to deliver in critical moments. Even with the questions that still follow him, Youngs first appearance on the NFLs Top 100 list at No. 98 suggests the league is starting to take notice of his progress. The bigger issue now is whether Carolina sees enough consistency to make a longer-term commitment, or whether this remains a wait-and-see situation heading into the offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Just Got Linked To A Bryce Young Backup Plan
Bryce Youngs uneven start has kept the Panthers in the conversation any time quarterback speculation comes up, and the latest round of chatter points to Carolina once again being linked to a possible backup plan. The idea is not hard to understand: the franchise still needs to sort out what it has at the position, and any hint of another young quarterback with upside is going to draw attention.
One name being floated around the league is a former top pick whose tools still intrigue evaluators even though the results have been mixed. The appeal is obvious for a team that is still searching for stability under center, but the real question is whether Carolina would see enough value to make a move and try to unlock a different kind of talent than the one already in the room. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Is Giving Panthers Fans Real Hope For 2026
Bryce Youngs rise has given Carolina something it has not had in a while: real reason to look past the present and imagine a better 2026. Since returning to the starting lineup in the middle of the 2024 season, Young has trended upward, and the Panthers have ridden that improvement all the way to their first playoff appearance since 2017 and their first NFC South title since 2015.
The optimism is easy to understand, because Young looks like a quarterback whose best football may still be ahead of him. Still, the next step is about more than flashes, and the questions around consistency have not disappeared, especially with his limited history of big-yardage outings. If he keeps building on this stretch, Carolinas outlook gets a lot more interesting. [Read more 🡒]