CHARLOTTE, NC – The Carolina Panthers fired general manager Marty Hurney on Monday over philosophical differences.
“He sees organizations as successful and there is some alignment between head coach and GM,” team owner David Tepper said in a statement. “To think you can do this without any kind of lineup is crazy. So not having a head coach with some input on this is stupid. I don’t want to be stupid, okay?”
Hurney, whose contract was scheduled to expire in June, has left immediately and the Panthers (4-10) will begin remodeling their main office during the offseason. They are currently in line for a draft pick in the top five.
“I think sometimes you just need a reboot, an upgrade,” Tepper said. “We did it last year on the technical side. Maybe you could say it should have been done earlier on the GM side. Maybe it should have been. I’m sure people can say that, or a otherwise, on both sides.
“I think it’s time, on both sides, to do it. It seems like it’s the right time to move forward.”
Tepper said in the statement that recent conversations with Hurney about football operations made it clear they were not on the same page.
Tepper and chief communications officer Steven Drummond will begin immediately identifying candidates with some already in mind. Head coach Matt Rhule will also be part of the process.
Tepper made it clear he was not happy with the team’s record, although star runner Christian McCaffrey has lost 11 games with injuries and the defense has been completely overhauled with young players.
“This team could have four easier wins,” Tepper said. “The last eight games we had to win or draw (seven to win, one to draw) if you win four of those games, you’re in a totally different position right now with this young team. Next year, I have a lot hopes where we will be and what we will do “.
Hurney has been with the Panthers since 1998, starting as director of football administration. He helped the 2003 team reach the Super Bowl with coach John Fox and largely built the 2015 team that went to the Super Bowl with general manager Dave Gettleman.
Hurney was fired five games of the 2012 season with the team with a bad start and was rehired in 2017 after Gettleman was fired.
He is in charge of drafting some of Carolina’s greatest all-time stars, such as quarterback Cam Newton, defender Luke Kuechly and defender Thomas Davis.