The Carolina Panthers are turning to a familiar face to help steady a battered secondary.
On Nov. 2, the team confirmed that DeAngelo Hall is joining Dave Canales’ staff as the Panthers’ new cornerbacks coach. Hall, a former Pro Bowl cornerback, steps into the job after the Panthers made a pair of defensive staff changes on Oct. 30, firing defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley.
Hall brings a long NFL résumé to the role. He played 14 seasons from 2004-2017, spending time with the Falcons, Raiders and Redskins, with most of his career coming in Washington. Drafted in the first round in 2004, Hall was selected to three Pro Bowls.
This is not his first stint in Carolina, either. Hall was previously with the Panthers as an assistant defensive backs coach in 2023 and 2024.
His return comes at a time when the cornerback room is stretched thin. Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson have both been on injured reserve since major injuries in Week 3 against the Browns, and backups Will Lee and Akayleb Evans have also been hurt since then.
The situation reached a breaking point in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers. Marco Wilson, who joined the practice squad on Oct. 6, started and played all 69 defensive snaps. Wilson lined up opposite Lee, but when Lee exited in the second quarter, Chau Smith-Wade was pushed back into action, leaving Carolina down to its fifth and sixth cornerbacks.
There is still hope that Horn and Jackson could return in the coming weeks, and both would be major additions if they do.
The Panthers are coming off their Thursday Night Football game against the Packers and now get a mini-bye before hosting the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Bank of America Stadium.
In Other News...
Panthers Could Finally Get Offensive Help Back When They Need It Most
The Panthers may be getting a little healthier up front at a time when they could use it. Head coach Dave Canales said the team plans to open the 21-day practice window for offensive lineman Brady Christensen, who has been on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, and Carolina will now take a closer look at what he can add once hes back on the field.
Christensen is healthy and ready to return, and the staff will evaluate his potential contribution from there. Canales also said running back Jonathon Brooks and wide receiver Xavier Legette are being considered for a return to practice, though both remain under evaluation, giving Carolina a few more moving parts to sort through as it tries to piece together help on offense. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Secondary Shakeup Puts New Pressure On Carolinas Defensive Reset
The Panthers defensive reset took another sharp turn after the loss, with the team moving on from defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley. In the immediate aftermath, Carolina turned to defensive line coach Todd Wash as interim defensive coordinator and added a familiar face in DeAngelo Hall, who has been hired to coach cornerbacks and rejoin the staff in a role he knows well.
Halls return gives Carolina a little continuity in a room that suddenly looks very different, especially after he spent the past two seasons as the Panthers assistant defensive backs coach. The changes leave Wash with the task of steadying a defense in transition while Hall helps reshape the secondary, and it puts even more attention on how quickly the Panthers can settle their staff after a jolt that came right in the middle of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Debate Ignores What Panthers Fans Should Really Fear
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Lamar Jackson inevitably enters the conversation because a two-time MVP changes the ceiling of any offense, yet the practical hurdles are obvious for Carolina. A trade would bring major financial strain and force the Panthers to reshape the roster around a player they would have to pay and support immediately, which is why the debate is less about fantasy and more about whether such a swing would actually make the franchise better. [Read more 🡒]