CHARLOTTE - The Carolina Panthers announced Tuesday the firings of offensive coordinator Mike Shula and quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey.
The moves are part of what is materializing as a major shakeup among the franchise’s coaching staff and front office.
The one definitive stability moving forward is at head coach, where three days ago Ron Rivera signed a two-year extension that runs through the 2020 season.
Rivera had said on Monday's year-end news conference that he didn't foresee any staff changes unless one of his staffers would be getting a promotion from another team.
On Tuesday afternoon, Rivera relayed what had changed at a news conference that had been announced only two hours earlier.
"I came to the conclusion that, going forward, I believed the thing we needed to do was bring in a different perspective and different ideas in terms of going forward to what is our ultimate goal - and that's winning a Super Bowl," Rivera said.
Shula joined the Panthers in 2011 as quarterbacks coach for two years before receiving the promotion to offensive coordinator in 2013. He’s been an NFL assistant for 26 years (in addition to being Alabama’s head coach from 2003-06) with previous stops at Tampa Bay, Miami and Chicago.
This season, Carolina ranked 12th in scoring at 22.7 points per game, 19th in total offense at 323.7 yards, fourth in rushing at 131.4, and 28th in passing at 192.3
Dorsey, a highly-decorated quarterback at the University of Miami before playing six years in the NFL, started at Carolina in 2011 as a scout before serving in his current position since 2013.
"I want to make sure everybody understands that this organization is very grateful of both Mike Shula and Kenny Dorsey to this organization and where we are as a football team," Rivera said.
However, Rivera said he and interim general manager Marty Hurney made the decision to move forward and potential replacements are former NFL head coaches Rob Chudzinski and Norv Turner - both former coaching colleagues of Rivera.
Tuesday night, the NFL Network's Ian Rappaport (@RapSheet) reported on Twitter, "The Panthers are expected to interview Norv Turner for their offensive coordinator position. He’s a top choice to join Ron Rivera’s staff."
"I think as a football team we have a lot of areas we can improve on," Rivera said. "I do know and I do believe that we, as a football team, can be more consistent. We have to improve across the board."
Rivera added that he didn't consult quarterback Cam Newton before making the decision but did talk to the 2015 NFL MVP after making the decision.
It continues an offseason that could be unusually turbulent for a franchise that just went 11-5 and advanced to its fourth playoff berth in five years.
Owner Jerry Richardson announced in mid-December he was putting the team up for sale at season’s end in the wake of misconduct in the workplace allegations detailed in a Sports Illustrated expose. The team initially began in internal investigation that was taken over by the NFL.
The Panthers season came to an end with Sunday’s 31-26 loss at New Orleans in the NFC wild-card playoff matchup.
In addition to the dismissal of the two offensive assistants, the Panthers could also lose defensive coordinator Steve
Wilks after just one season on the job. The Charlotte native, who has been with the organization for six years, was elevated from secondary coach and assistant head coach prior to this past season to replace Sean McDermott, who left to become Buffalo’s head coach.
Wilks is interviewing Tuesday for the head coaching position with the N.Y. Giants, who recently hired former Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman for the same role. Wilks also has head coaching interviews lined up later this week with the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts.
Another position that remains murky in Carolina is general manager. Hurney has held the position in an interim role after being chosen by Richardson to replace Gettleman just days before the team arrived at Wofford in July for training camp. Hurney has expressed a desire to take the job full-time. He previously held the position from 2002 until being fired after a 1-5 start in 2012.
It’s unlikely any move would be made regarding Hurney keeping the job full-time until a new ownership group is in place. He was originally slated to stay aboard with the club through the NFL draft the end of April.
Rivera is confident his recent contract extension provides enough stability to allow the organization to move forward - and move forward successfully.
"I think what this does, to me, it signals that we're looking for an opportunity to grow and get better," Rivera said.
"That's what this (offensive coaching) move was made for. Something different, something additional or a different perspective can give us the boost that I'm looking for that I believe can get us to the ultimate goal. And that's winningthe Super Bowl."
Gaston Gazette sports reporter Richard Walker contributed to this story.