Panthers Culture Shift: Dave Canales’ Steady Hand Begins to Reshape Carolina
The Carolina Panthers are in the middle of a rebuild - not just of the roster, but of the culture. And if you ask around the locker room, it’s clear that new head coach Dave Canales is already leaving his mark.
Running back Chuba Hubbard didn’t sugarcoat it: building a winning culture takes time. But what’s happening in Carolina isn’t about slogans or surface-level hype - it’s about consistency, and Canales is setting that tone every day.
“When you’re trying to build a culture, people think it just happens overnight,” Hubbard said. “But it’s built over time - through the highs and lows, and staying consistent with the message.”
That message? Optimism, energy, and authenticity. And according to Hubbard, Canales lives it every single day.
“He’s the same guy every day,” Hubbard said. “Doesn’t change, always positive, always optimistic.
That’s huge, especially in a head coach. Guys are starting to buy in and be the face of the culture in their own way.
That’s when you know it’s starting to take hold.”
Veteran wide receiver David Moore, who’s worked with Canales in multiple stops across his career, echoed that sentiment. To Moore, the biggest change in Carolina hasn’t been Canales himself - it’s what’s happening around him.
“He hasn’t changed a thing about who he is,” Moore said. “But he’s changed this whole organization just by being himself.”
That kind of leadership - steady, authentic, and action-oriented - resonates with players. Moore pointed out that Canales didn’t just talk about changing the culture. He lived it.
“Some people come in and just talk,” Moore said. “Dave came in and just walked.
He let his actions do the talking. He’s been a man of his word since I’ve known him.
And players can feel that - especially when it’s real.”
Dan Morgan Eyes Key Fixes: Pressure, Playmakers, and Pocket Mobility
While Canales is laying the cultural foundation, GM Dan Morgan is focused on fixing the football side of things - and he’s not sugarcoating the areas that need work.
“Our pass rush wasn’t up to par,” Morgan said. “We had the second-lowest pressure rate in the league. That’s just not acceptable.”
Morgan knows the formula in today’s NFL is simple: protect your quarterback, affect theirs. The Panthers didn’t do enough of either in 2025, and it showed in the win column.
That’s why one of the team’s top offseason priorities is boosting the pass rush. Whether that comes through the draft, free agency, or both, expect Carolina to get more aggressive up front.
Another area under the microscope? Quarterback depth. While the Panthers are committed to developing their starter, Morgan made it clear they’re looking for a backup who can create outside the structure.
“We definitely put a premium on the athlete,” Morgan said. “We want someone who can escape the pocket, extend plays, and make things happen with his legs.”
That mobility adds a layer of insurance - and in today’s league, it’s almost a prerequisite.
And then there’s the wide receiver room. While the Panthers have some solid pieces, Morgan pointed to a missing ingredient: a true YAC threat.
“We’re missing that guy who can take a 5-yard catch and turn it into a big play,” Morgan said. “Someone who can make guys miss and flip the field.”
In other words, Carolina needs a spark - a playmaker who can change the game in an instant.
The Bottom Line
The Panthers are still a work in progress, but the early signs under Dave Canales are encouraging. Players are buying in.
The locker room is responding. And the front office is clear-eyed about what needs fixing.
It’s not just about slogans or speeches - it’s about substance. And if Carolina can pair Canales’ culture shift with the right personnel moves, this rebuild might not take as long as some think.