Panthers Fire OC Mike Shula, QB Coach Ken Dorsey

The Carolina Panthers are implementing two more major staffing changes.

Panthers Offensive Coaching Staff Changes News

Offensive coordinator Mike Shula and quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey have been relieved of their duties, the franchise announced Tuesday.

The development is particularly surprising because head coach Ron Rivera said in his season wrap-up press conference Monday that he didn’t foresee any staffing changes barring coaches leaving to pursue other jobs.

Dorsey and Shula’s departures follow that of owner Jerry Richardson, who resigned on Dec. 17 following allegations of sexual harassment and use of a racial slur. Several celebrities including Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and Steph Curry quickly expressed interest in buying the franchise.

Shula has been with the Panthers — who lost 31-26 to the New Orleans Saints in Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Game — since 2011 and has served as the offensive coordinator since 2013. He’s coached as an assistant in the NFL for 26 seasons and was also the head coach at Alabama from 2003-06.

Carolina’s offense has struggled the past two seasons since leading the NFL in scoring in 2015.  The Panthers finished 19th in total offense this past season and were even worse in terms of passing, where they ranked 28th. Carolina was fourth in rushing yards in 2017.

Dorsey has been Carolina’s quarterbacks coach for the past five seasons. He was a record-setting quarterback at Miami before playing in the NFL primarily as a backup from 2003 to 2008.

Dave Gettleman, who served as the Panthers’ general manager from 2013-2016, was recently named the New York Giants’ new GM. Gettleman also served as a personnel director for the Giants for 13 seasons.