Dan Morgan Hired as Panthers' GM to Replace Fitterer; Was Serving in Assistant Role

The Carolina Panthers announced Monday that former assistant general manager Dan Morgan has been promoted to president of football operations and general manager, replacing Scott Fitterer.

"Dan has a thorough knowledge of our football personnel and a clear vision to take us where we all want to go," owner David Tepper said. "We know he will attack this opportunity with the same intensity he did as a Panthers player."

Joe Person of The Athletic reported that the 45-year-old is expected to handle the personnel side of football operations, while Kansas City Chiefs vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis—who the Panthers previously interviewed for their general manager vacancy—remains a candidate to handle the salary cap and business side of the operation if hired.

Morgan has a lengthy NFL résumé. He started his playing career with the Panthers in 2001 after being a first-round pick by the team and spent seven seasons with them, registering 390 tackles and five interceptions in his career.

He was a Pro Bowler in 2007, and the highlight of his career came in Super Bowl XXXVIII when he registered an incredible 25 tackles. But he struggled with injuries and concussions throughout his career, eventually causing him to retire at age 29.

Morgan transitioned into a scouting role in 2010 as an intern with the Seattle Seahawks and eventually ascended to that organization's director of pro personnel, a role he held between 2015 and 2017. He joined the Buffalo Bills in 2018 as director of player personnel and returned to Carolina in 2021 as Fitterer's assistant general manager.

Morgan is now the third GM under Tepper's ownership, following in the footsteps of longtime team executive Marty Hurney and Fitterer.

His first decision will be a huge one, as he spearheads the effort to hire a new head coach after the team's disastrous 1-16 season.

Morgan is not inheriting an easy rebuilding effort—quarterback Bryce Young did not look good in his rookie season and the Panthers don't have a first-round pick in this year's draft after trading up to select him last season.

The Panthers are starting from scratch, essentially. They tabbed an important part of the franchise's history to turn things around.