The Panthers won three division titles and made one Super Bowl in their first 18 years in the NFL. They won the NFC South three times and reached a Super Bowl in Dave Gettleman’s first three seasons as the team’s general manager.
Yet less than 18 months after the Panthers capped a 15-1 regular season by playing in Super Bowl 50, Gettleman — the new Giants GM — was fired in a stunning July move just before training camp began for the 2017 campaign. The Panthers did have a disappointing 2016 season, dropping to 6-10 and missing the playoffs for the first time since Gettleman took over. But the timing of the firing — both that it was so close to a Super Bowl appearance and that it happened in July — sent shock waves through the NFL.
How did Gettleman’s relationship with the Panthers sour so quickly? The Charlotte Observer did some digging, and found a number of factors that led to his dismissal.
– Gettleman’s “brusque management style” had been a problem from very early in his tenure, and had become more of a problem throughout the organization. That style tends to be forgiven when the wins are piling up and frowned upon quickly when the losses start to. Gettleman spent 15 years in the Giants’ personnel departments before arriving in Carolina, so they know his style.
– Some people in the organization did not like how Gettleman retooled the roster in the offseason after reaching the Super Bowl. The Panthers made wholesale changes in the secondary, and began the season light on depth along the offensive line. Injuries to Michael Oher and Ryan Kalil exposed those depth issues and played a large role in Carolina’s plummet.
– Bridges were burned with former players, and it got worse after he rescinded star cornerback Josh Norman’s franchise tag offer. Norman left for Washington.
– The “tipping point” for owner Jerry Richardson was how Gettleman handled the contract situations of Thomas Davis and Greg Olsen, two of Richardson’s favorite players. Olsen was threatening to hold out at the time.
Gettleman’s success with the Panthers is hard to argue. He took over a franchise that had missed the postseason in six of the previous seven seasons and was reportedly $16 million over the salary cap. Remolding the roster around stars like Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, Davis and Olsen led to the ouster of other established stars like Steve Smith and Jon Beason.
The results should excite Giants fans, though the issues with his management style and handling of both the offensive line and defensive backfield — two sore spots for differing reasons on the Giants this season — also could give them pause. The longtime Giants executive is coming back and has some important decisions to make as this offseason takes shape.