Report: Carolina Panthers to hire Baylor's Matt Rhule as head coach

The Carolina Panthers reportedly are pulling Baylor’s Matt Rhule up to the NFL head coaching ranks (Getty Images)

The latest hot college coaching star is coming up to the National Football League.

The Carolina Panthers are hiring Baylor’s Matt Rhule to be their new head coach, per a report from Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated.

Sources: Baylor coach Matt Rhule finalizing a deal to become next coach of the Carolina Panthers.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 7, 2020

Rhule was rumored to be the top choice of the New York Giants as well, but the Panthers, and team owner David Tepper, did not want Rhule to get out of Charlotte without accepting their position instead.

Rhule, who turns 45 later this month, coached the last three seasons with the Baylor Bears in the Big Twelve conference. He led Baylor to an 11-win season, finishing 11-2 and earning a trip to the Sugar Bowl where they lost to Georgia 26-14. Rhule led the Baylor program back from many sanctions from the Art Briles era, improving them from a 1-win season in 2017, to 6-6 in 2018, and breaking through in 2019.

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