The Carolina Panthers are focusing on building a clear team identity as they move into the second half of their season. Head coach Dave Canales regularly meets with the team’s leadership council, which includes captains Bryce Young, Derrick Brown, and JJ Jansen, along with veteran players from both within the organization and those who have played for other successful teams.
“A lot of humility in that room,” said Canales on Monday. “Certainly a group that’s been growing in confidence based on how we’ve been playing and how we’ve been preparing.”
Following a 40-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the leadership council gathered for what Canales calls “Tell the Truth Monday” to honestly assess what went wrong during Week 8.
“Had a chance to meet with our leadership council of our players, talking about the game, reflecting on—that’s not our football,” Canales said. “And just kind of had that conversation about the run game, playing it well with discipline, the tackling, the things that showed up there, and of course taking care of the ball on the flip side of it offensively.”
This was not their first such meeting; similar discussions took place after a Week 4 loss to New England. “Four weeks ago we had the same meeting; we had one at the beginning of the year, got four games in and then regrouped,” explained Canales. “And it’s a great leadership group. The guys understand that it’s the work and it’s the process that have led to success.
“So, very eerily similar in that regard (to New England) and I’m hoping for the same result so the guys come back together, regroup, and we get back to some really good football.”
Canales noted that this time there was more clarity coming out of their discussion because they now have a better sense of who they are as a team.
“Definitely there was a shift early in the season, even from our veteran players in our group—these a lot of them who were new to this team and new to this group—it’s a team that’s grown together,” he said.
“It’s a team that’s found ways to win in different phases, and going into this meeting today, there’s a sense of an identity, there’s a sense of what we look like at our best, and we understand where we’re going, what we’re getting after, and what’s required of it.
“So there is a confidence that’s growing and a knowing of who we are and what our identity can be at its best.”
Since joining in January 2024, Canales has emphasized establishing an identity for each iteration of his team—a process shaped by natural roster changes each year. He believes last season laid down their foundation while this season is adding structure.
Linebacker Christian Rozeboom echoed these sentiments: “This team’s in a different spot than we were four weeks ago,” he said. “I know obviously the game on Sunday wasn’t what we—where we’ve been but sitting in that room four weeks ago we had won one game but at the same time we were really trying to figure out who we were and I think now we can see what we can be and confidence is there.
“Obviously game wasn’t what we wanted and that’s something like I said earlier we’ll address but at same time it’s believing as team no matter who we’re up against.”
Canales stated that Sunday’s defeat clarified their path forward by showing them exactly what they do not want to become. They reviewed previous wins this season to identify successful patterns absent from their performance against Buffalo.
“The challenge for us is to return to football that led to success which is stopping run first foremost getting run game going then taking care ball so that we can get back return version football want play,” Canales said.
“Some great football great process. What we’re asking them get out each day are—Wednesday through Saturday—showing up Sunday playing good technical technically sound football those principles going get us back playing type ball much better conversation after four weeks looking done saying led this?
“Well fundamentals attention detail throughout week then Sunday showing up everything you have making sure those things carry over.”
Running back Chuba Hubbard summarized their mindset: “I feel like everyone’s confident in themselves also this team,” he said. “This is NFL even after loss doesn’t mean you burn whole ship after win doesn’t mean you just hold on success forever either.
“It’s just about resetting every single week every guy room knows takes win looks like so just kind falling back fundamentals process we’ve been building.”
