Dave Canales responds to benching Bryce Young mid-season for Andy Dalton

After a 0-2 start, the Carolina Panthers decided to bring in their backup option Bryce Young to a much more safer space.


Dave Canales responds to benching Bryce Young mid-season for Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton, Bryce Young, Dave Canales (Images via SI)

Amid the last season, the Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales decided to bench the sophomore quarterback Bryce Young for an experienced Andy Dalton. Canales’ decision was heavily criticized for demotivating and hindering young quarterback development.

The decision seemed to have changed Young for the better. The 2021 Heisman winner from Wynnewood, Pennsylvania showcased a much better athlete than the one he was before benching. Young had just one big-time throw before Week 8 and finished the season with 27, ranked seventh in the league.

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Dave Canales praised the shift in Bryce Young’s nature after the benching. Canales expressed that Young took the benching as a chance to learn and perform better once he returned to the field again.

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I don’t know if this model works, but I know it worked for Bryce. I know Bryce took the challenge, Bryce grew, he took every day as an opportunity. He never stopped leading through that whole time. He was working his teammates in the locker room, he was working the sideline during games, he was there as support for Andy while he was playing. He literally did not bow out.

Dave Canales said to PFF Live

The head coach also showered praises on the quarterback’s personality. He pointed out that Young didn’t retreat to himself during the benching and stayed the course with the team. A mid-season benching might create demotivation among football players.

A lot of times you see these things happen and the quarterback all of a sudden starts to retreat. He just stayed available and was consistent with his teammates and kept working on his craft until he got his next opportunity. So I have to give Bryce all the credit.

Dave Canales on Bryce Young’s resurgence

Panthers GM Morgan felt like a proud dad seeing Bryce Young bounce back from early struggles

Bryce Young showed significant improvement over the course of the 2024 season, elevating his performance in the final 10 games compared to his first 18. Initially, he averaged 173.4 passing yards per game with a 59.3% completion rate, 11 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 70.9 passer rating, leading Carolina to just two wins.

Bryce Young
Bryce Young. (Image via Imago)

However, in the last 10 games, he boosted his averages to 210.4 passing yards, a 61.8% completion rate, 15 touchdowns, six interceptions, and an 88.9 passer rating while also adding five rushing scores, helping the Panthers secure four victories.

Dan Morgan, the Carolina Panthers general manager admitted that he felt like a proud dad watching Byrce Young come out off of the sidelines ready to play some serious game.

The way that he handled the challenges last year, getting benched after the second week and then returning and playing the way that he did, it just shows how resilient he is. It just shows how much he loves football and how much he loves competing, so to see him come back, I was just like a proud dad. I love the kid. I can’t wait to see what he does in the future. I think big things are ahead for him.

 Dan Morgan told CBS Sports on Tuesday

Dan Morgan has extended Andy Dalton, who now serves as a mentor to the new quarterback after building good chemistry in their short span together.