Carolina Panthers fire Mike Shula and Ken Dorsey, set to rebuild offensive coaching team
Tuesday 9 January 2018 23:47, UK
The Carolina Panthers have fired offensive coordinator Mike Shula and quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey.
Shula had been with the Panthers for seven years, starting out as quarterbacks coach before being promoted in 2013, when Dorsey took up his previous role.
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But both have paid the price for a poor passing season, the Panthers finishing 28th in the NFL in passing yards and failing to take advantage of their fourth-ranked rushing game.
Shula helped to nurture quarterback Cam Newton and was behind his Most Valuable Player award season in 2015.
But Newton struggled for much of 2017 and the Panthers' season came to an early end on Sunday when they were beaten 31-26 by the New Orleans Saints in the Wildcard Round.
Head coach Ron Rivera recently signed a two-year contract extension with the Panthers and now faces rebuilding his offensive coaching team.
He could also lose defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who has interviewed for some of the league's head coaching vacancies.
