Panthers have interest in Texans offensive assistants

The Carolina Panthers see something in the Houston Texans’ offensive brain trust from the 2021 season.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Panthers have spoken to former Texans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly about their offensive coordinator vacancy. They also requested to speak to current Texans quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton about the same position. Hamilton turned down the Panthers’ request.

If the Panthers, who are in need of quarterback help for the second straight year, are looking to court Deshaun Watson to come to Carolina, getting his offensive coordinator would be one way to do it. The Panthers may also be looking at Kelly as they comb through a variety of candidates to find the perfect offensive coordinator to save Matt Rhule’s job.

That Hamilton turned down the Panthers’ request for an interview indicates there could be upward mobility on his part on the new staff. Hamilton has some of the same philosophies as Stanford coach David Shaw, and it is worth mentioning that Davis Mills comes from that system having played quarterback at Stanford.

Nothing is settled at offensive coordinator for the Texans as general manager Nick Caserio continues to look for the team’s fifth full-time coach in team history and their second coach in as many seasons.