There’s no doubt that Dave Canales’ first win as head coach of the Carolina Panthers would be a special one. But Sunday’s triumph meant even more considering everything that went into it.
Canales chatted with reporters this afternoon to put a bow on Week 3’s stunning 36-22 upset over the Las Vegas Raiders. Towards the end of his presser, the 43-year-old was asked about the passionate postgame celebration that made its rounds on social media last night.
🗣️Turn us up, Coach! pic.twitter.com/bkNKZYqISM
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 23, 2024
“I live for the celebration of the group,” he stated. “I live for the celebration of everybody that’s working so hard to try to find those wins throughout the week. And I live for the spirit of the players, that they feel pride about what we’re doing. That’s so important to me.”
The players had to have been proud of what they did yesterday, especially on offense. In their first game after Canales made the tough decision to bench 2023 No. 1 overall pick and second-year quarterback Bryce Young, the unit accumulated 437 total yards and scored on seven of their 11 drives.
Carolina’s defense wasn’t too shabby either, as they racked up a season-high three sacks and picked off Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew. They also held Las Vegas to just 55 rushing yards, quite the accomplishment considering how both the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers gashed them in Weeks 1 and 2.
Canales then talked about the importance of the game ball, one he received from owner David Tepper.
“The game ball—I’ll always remember this for the rest of the my life,” he added. “Part of the pregame that I got emotional about is my dad’s 75 years old, and couldn’t make it down the sideline to see him. But the rest of my family was. But I could see him sitting underneath that 107 sign up there and just kinda looking up and how special it was for me to get my first win with all of family there. My brothers, their wives, all the kids, my cousins, my parents—that they were all there in that moment to share it. It was really, really special.
“And to also, just like . . . I wanna make the people proud that brought me here. Mr. and Mrs. Tepper, Dan Morgan, part of that process, all the people that were on the panel interviewing me to come here and to build something, to build a program that we can be proud of. And it’s just one game, and I cherish that ball.”
The ball is now in Canales’ office, sitting next to the game ball from his first win as the head junior varsity coach at Carson High School.
