One of the biggest question marks for the Carolina Panthers heading into the 2025 NFL season has been the quarterback position. But now, head coach Dave Canales has announced his decision on who will lead the offense between Bryce Young and Andy Dalton.
The Panthers have struggled to find consistency at quarterback in recent years. Since the departure of Cam Newton, they’ve yet to find a long-term solution under center.
In 2023, Carolina traded several draft picks to acquire the No. 1 overall selection from the Chicago Bears, using it to draft Bryce Young. However, the former Alabama standout has yet to meet the high expectations placed on him.
Dave Canales makes final decision on Bryce Young vs. Andy Dalton
The 2024 season brought significant changes for the Panthers. The team started the year with Bryce Young under center, hoping the former top pick would prove himself as the franchise quarterback.
However, Young struggled early on, and head coach Dave Canales made the decision to bench him in favor of veteran Andy Dalton—a move many saw as the end of Young’s run in Carolina.
But an injury to Dalton opened the door for Young to reclaim the starting job. He finished the season on a stronger note, showing signs of improvement and reigniting the debate over who should start in 2025.
Now, Canales has put the speculation to rest. The coach confirmed that the team is committed to building a stronger offense around Bryce Young, signaling that he will be the starting quarterback moving forward.
“Honestly, my expectations are just wide open, especially as he goes in there with command like he’s been doing this offseason and really just leading the guys,” Canales said, via transcript from the team. “There were some great plays out there, some great timing, throws, but also just the level of comfort like we talked about with the offense, knowing the words, making different tweaks, and he’s a part of that process.
“These are conversations that we’ve been having with him going back to the end of last season that we want to implement and just be able to, especially in the pass game, become Bryce Young offense, become this collective thing and get the chemistry going. I feel really confident about what I saw today, especially going against the defense, and just the speed that we were playing with.”
What does this mean for Andy Dalton?
Following the 2024 season, the Panthers chose to retain Andy Dalton, signing him to a two-year, $8 million extension in February.
While the focus is now on developing Young, Dalton’s presence as a veteran backup is seen as a valuable asset—both as insurance and as a mentor. If Young falters again, the Panthers know they have a reliable and experienced quarterback ready to step in.
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