Dave Canales

David Canales (born May 7, 1981) is an American professional football coach who is the head coach for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Azusa Pacific and served as a longtime assistant coach with the Seattle Seahawks under Pete Carroll. Canales also was an assistant strength coach with the USC Trojans and offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Canales was born on May 7, 1981, in Harbor City, California. He attended Carson High School in Carson, California,^[1] where he played wide receiver and defensive back. He played college football at Azusa Pacific University, then a NAIA program in Azusa, California. In his college career, Canales recorded 27 receptions for 293 yards and one touchdown.^[2] He graduated in 2003 from Azusa Pacific with a degree in business administration.

Canales began his coaching career serving as the head coach and offensive coordinator of the freshman/sophomore team at his alma mater, Carson High School, from 2004 to 2005.^[3]

Canales made the jump to college coaching in 2006 by joining El Camino (Calif.) College. He served as tight ends coach and special teams coordinator in his first year, before transitioning to quarterbacks coach in his final season with the team (2007-08). During his tenure, the school won the California Community College State Championship in 2006 and also secured two Mission Conference titles.

During his time at El Camino College, Canales formed a relationship with Pete Carroll, the head coach of the USC Trojans. In 2009, Canales joined Carroll at USC, where he served as an assistant strength coach for one season.

In 2010, Canales followed Carroll after the latter's acceptance of the Seattle Seahawks' head coaching position. He won his first Super Bowl title when the Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.^[4] Canales spent 13 years with the Seahawks, serving in a variety of capacities on the offensive side of the staff. From 2010 through 2017, Canales served as wide receivers coach, he coached prominent players such as Golden Tate, Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and Tyler Lockett. He then took on the roles of quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator from 2018 through 2022.^[5] Canales was credited with assisting in the resurgence of quarterback Geno Smith's career. In the 2022 season, Smith was highly effective as the team's starting quarterback and was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year, while also earning his first Pro Bowl appearance.^[6]

On February 16, 2023, Canales was hired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their offensive coordinator under head coach Todd Bowles, replacing Byron Leftwich.^[7]

On January 25, 2024, Canales signed a six year contract to become the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.^[8][9] Canales got his first win as the Panthers' coach on September 22, 2024, in Week 3 at the Las Vegas Raiders 36-22.^[10]

Canales is married to Lizzy Canales, who he met while attending Azusa Pacific University. They have four children.^[11]

• Keefer, Zak (August 28, 2024). "Confronting his demons saved Dave Canales' marriage — and made Panthers coach an 'optimist bully'". The Athletic. Retrieved August 28, 2024.

• Carolina Panthers bio
• Azusa Pacific bio