INDIANAPOLIS — Over the past year and a half, Bryce Young’s journey with the Carolina Panthers has been marked by setbacks and breakthroughs, highlighted by key moments such as being benched early in the 2024 season, nearly upsetting the Los Angeles Rams in the first playoff round last season, and the Panthers’ recent decision to pick up Young’s fifth-year option. This trajectory reflects a careful process of quarterback development led by head coach Dave Canales, focusing on gradual improvement amid challenges.
Despite a turbulent timeline, Canales views these events not as chaos but as pivotal steps in building Young’s success. Sitting in a busy Indianapolis hotel surrounded by NFL personnel, Canales explained how intentional coaching and patience have driven Young’s growth as a quarterback since being drafted first overall in 2023.
Team Growth and Young’s Rising Performance in 2025
The Panthers transformed from a disappointing 5-12 record in 2024 to NFC South champions in the following season. Concurrently, Bryce Young delivered career-best statistics, throwing for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and completing 63.6% of his passes in 2025. This progress did not happen overnight but was the result of combined efforts by a young leadership core, including second-year GM Dan Morgan and a group of promising rookies like receiver Tetairoa McMillan and defensive standout Nic Scourton.
Canales emphasized the importance of perseverance and teamwork throughout this development phase.
“I had never lost confidence in Bryce, the guy,”
Canales said.
“We’re all in the same boat. So there’s a lot of grace and empathy that goes across the board for all of us really just becoming this thing.”
Overcoming Early Struggles and Maintaining Commitment
After benching Young just two games into the 2024 season, many expected the Panthers to pursue a different quarterback. However, Canales remained steadfast in his commitment to developing Young rather than abandoning the first overall pick as previous Panthers regimes did with Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. Instead of sidelining Young permanently, the team used that period as an opportunity for him to learn, particularly by observing veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, who started five games during that stretch.
Reflecting on that difficult decision, Canales commented,
“There was an emotional strain. I could feel that, I know because it was a hard decision. I know Bryce could feel that because of how this impacted him directly, and everybody else can feel it. It’s like, ‘Oh, this seems like a big deal.’ But it’s like, ‘OK, this is the decision that was made. But how do we get better today?’ And so there’s, like, a daily focus on improvement. Bryce is wired that way.”
He added,
“He never wavered on that part, so that when his opportunity came back, he was that much better.”
Young’s Work Ethic and Learning Through Experience
Rather than succumb to external criticism or consider trading Young, Canales and the Panthers prioritized a long-term vision. Young spent the benching period honing his understanding of the Panthers’ offensive system and analyzing how Dalton prepared for games. This behind-the-scenes work laid the foundation for his eventual return to the field during Week 8 of the 2024 season, where he finished strongly and demonstrated clear development into 2025.
Canales recalled his ongoing internal dialogue about Young’s progress:
“What’s the next step? What’s the next step for him? Let’s stay on track with that, because over time, if that’s our focus, we’ll build something really cool. And that’s what he’s done. He just continues to stack lessons.”
A story from this period illustrates their collaboration: while discussing a specific formation against a defensive look, Canales asked,
“What do you like right here?”
and Young responded,
“I want to get into this,”
resulting in Canales encouraging the call, “Do it.” This dynamic reflected Young’s growing confidence and understanding of the offense.
Statistical Progress and the Challenge Ahead
Despite modest advanced metrics such as an EPA per dropback of -0.08 and a 42.6% success rate, Young’s performance improved steadily with a strong finish in 2024 and solid numbers in 2025. The Panthers rewarded this with the fifth-year option, signalling continued belief in his potential.
Still, setbacks have been part of his growth, illustrating the difficult path of quarterback development. Canales remains focused on maintaining this upward trend, asking,
“If this thing comes to a crescendo, which I believe it will, if Bryce goes where I think he’s going to go this year and continues to improve … we’re going to have to make that [contract] decision.”
He added,
“And I want to make sure, organizationally, or from a roster standpoint, we are in a position to say, ‘OK, let’s go.’”
Building Around Young’s Strengths with a Run-First Philosophy
Looking ahead to 2026, the Panthers’ strategy focuses on supporting Young with draft picks and young players who can contribute quickly, as well as signing free agents in their mid-20s who can provide long-term value. A central theme of their approach is establishing a powerful running game to ease pressure on Young and promote his development.
Canales, influenced by his work under Seattle head coach Pete Carroll, believes a balanced offense is essential for a young quarterback’s growth.
“The greatest thing you could do for a quarterback is to develop a consistent run game. Sounds crazy, but it’s the truth,”
Canales explained.
He stressed the dangers of forcing a quarterback to play from behind or throwing excessively on difficult downs. “You’re exposing them,” Canales said.
“All of that stuff stunts development.”
This philosophy showed in the combined 1,587 rushing yards and seven touchdowns amassed by Carolina backs Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard in 2025. Canales acknowledges that even if the team must allocate significant salary cap space to retain Young, it remains vital to protect him by avoiding too many high-pressure passing situations.
Future Considerations and the Organization’s Commitment
While the Panthers have been unwavering in their developmental support for Young, a long-term contract extension remains undecided. Canales expressed cautious optimism about the quarterback’s future with the team:
“Is it Bryce? I hope so. That’s our goal, to make it so that we can build a strong enough team to be able to withstand that [contract] and continue to have that layered, progressive developmental approach.”
By maintaining their focus on steady growth, patience, and balanced team-building, the Panthers aim to maximize Bryce Young’s potential as their franchise quarterback, seeking sustained success for the seasons to come.
