The NFC South’s coaching carousel spun twice this week, and both moves came from teams trying to stop the bleeding.
Carolina and New Orleans each made changes on the defensive or run-game side after frustrating stretches, with the Panthers overhauling part of their defensive staff and the Saints shifting how they handle the ground game. The timing lined up with Tampa Bay’s recent surge, putting even more pressure on two division rivals already chasing the Buccaneers in the standings.
The Panthers moved first, firing defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley on October 30. Head coach Dave Canales then promoted defensive line coach Todd Wash to interim defensive coordinator, and Wash will handle defensive play-calling moving forward.
Carolina’s decision came on the heels of back-to-back losses to Tampa Bay and Green Bay. The Panthers gave up 43 points and 258 rushing yards to the Buccaneers in Week 7, then followed that with a 27-19 defeat to the Packers.
The numbers behind the move were ugly. Carolina entered Week 8 ranked 27th in points allowed, 22nd in total defense and dead last against the run. The trouble had been there from the jump, too, with the Panthers allowing 291 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns against Chicago in Week 1.
Wash brings experience to the job. He previously served as Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator from 2016 through 2020, a stretch that included the Jaguars’ 2017 AFC Championship Game appearance. With the reshuffle, outside linebackers coach AC Carter will pick up additional defensive line duties, while Renaldo Hill remains in charge of the secondary.
New Orleans made its own adjustment during the Week 8 bye, dismissing run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti after a 16-10 loss to Pittsburgh in Week 7. That game was especially rough on the ground: the Saints finished with just 18 rushing yards on 17 carries.
The Saints’ rushing issues have been a season-long problem. According to the team, New Orleans ranks 28th in the league with 86 rushing yards per game and has topped 100 yards on the ground only twice in seven games, with those outings coming against Las Vegas and the New York Giants.
Head coach Kellen Moore said offensive line coach Brendan Nugent will now lead the weekly run game structure, while running backs coach Joel Thomas will continue to help with situational planning. The rest of the offensive staff will also be involved in building the game plan.
Paganetti arrived with Moore in 2025 after working with him in Philadelphia, but New Orleans chose not to replace him with another run game coordinator. Instead, the Saints are spreading those responsibilities across the staff they already have.
While Carolina and New Orleans are trying to reset, Tampa Bay has been piling up momentum. The Buccaneers have won two straight behind a rushing attack that produced 582 yards over the last two weeks.
They ran for 258 yards against Carolina, then followed that with a franchise-record 324 yards in a 16-0 shutout of Atlanta. Those two games also produced a franchise record for rushing yards over a two-game span.
The standings reflect how much is at stake in the division race. Carolina enters Week 9 at 3-4, Tampa Bay and Atlanta are both 3-5, and New Orleans sits at 2-5 after its bye. The Panthers are looking for answers against the run, the Saints need steadier production on the ground, and the Buccaneers are trying to keep climbing after their 2-5 start.
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