Panthers DC candidate profile: Al Holcomb

With so much hubbub surrounding the future of Steve Wilks, the future of Al Holcomb has gone overlooked. As the Carolina Panthers look to possibly pivot off of Wilks, the team’s 2022 interim defensive coordinator has been left in a bit of a limbo.

Nonetheless, Holcomb showed that he is an impressive and talented young defensive mind this past season. Even despite a rough start, which was to be expected given the circumstances of the 1-4 Panthers, the 52-year-old admirably (and effectively) picked up the pieces left behind by the departures of Matt Rhule and his predecessor Phil Snow.

The Panthers defense would see an improvement under Holcomb—as they allowed 3.4 fewer points per game following the transition. Carolina also held opponents to under 16 points in five of Holcomb’s 12 games and allowed just one 30-point outing over the last eight weeks of the season.

Holcomb has spent the majority of his career under Wilks, and will continue to do so if the team doesn’t make a drastic change. Otherwise, Holcomb could have options—as he’s already landed an interview with the division rival Atlanta Falcons.

Keeping Holcomb around would help stabilize Carolina’s young and growing defense. Hopefully, the Panthers can see what is right in front of them and give him a thorough look before he flies away.