NFL owners left red-faced as Panthers sign up Matt Rhule on $60 million contract

National Football League, i.e. NFL side Carolina Panthers confirmed the appointment of Matt Rhule as their new head coach on January 7, 2020. According to reports, Panthers owner David Tepper hired Rhule on a seven-year deal worth $60 million. Panthers finished the season at the bottom in the National Football Conference Southern Division (NFC South) with a 5-11 record. Former head coach Ron Rivera was fired back in December after he led Panthers to a 5-7 win-loss start. Interim coach Perry Fewell finished the regular season with a 0-4 record.

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NFL News: Dave Tepper goes all out for Matt Rhule

The former head of Baylor's football team is now the sixth-highest paid coach in the NFL behind the likes of Bill Belichick and Jon Gruden. However, all of those six coaches have won a Super Bowl. And according to the Washington Post, NFL owners are angry that Dave Tepper gave such a large contract to a first-time NFL head coach.

Reports also add that several NFC South coaches are 'pissed' and might just shut Tepper out of the league meetings. The Panthers also reportedly paid $6 million to buy Matt Rhule out of his contract at Baylor and the 44-year-old can earn up to $70 million in total by way of various incentives in his contract.

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According to Forbes, David Tepper is the richest owner in the NFL with a net worth of $12 billion. He bought the Carolina Panthers in 2018 in a reported $2.3 billion deal. Matt Rhule, who was also linked to the New York Giants, was scheduled to have an interview with Giants owners Steve Tisch and John Mara. However, Tepper swooped and hired the coach ahead of Giants. After his appointment, Rhule revealed that he never personally spoke to anyone but Tepper and his executives at Panthers. 

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Matt Rhule addresses the media after Panthers' appointment

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(Image Credits: Carolina Panthers official Twitter handle)