Panthers hire offensive line coach with connections to new coordinator Ben McAdoo
The Carolina Panthers are bringing nearly 20 years of NFL coaching experience to their offensive line.
On Monday, Carolina agreed to terms with veteran offensive line coach James Campen. Before having the same job last season with the Houston Texans, the 57-year-old Campen spent 15 years coaching the Packers’ offensive line. His time in Green Bay overlapped with new Panthers offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo.
The two spent eight years together on the Packers’ staff.
Campen coached seven Pro Bowl linemen during his time in Green Bay while scheming pass protections for quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. He and McAdoo won Super Bowl XLIV together. In 2018, Campen coached left tackle David Bakhtiari to an AP First-Team All-Pro selection.
While with the Packers, Campen helped produce six different Pro Bowl offensive linemen, including Bakhtiari, T.J. Lang and Jeff Saturday.
In 2019, Campen served as the Browns associate head coach and offensive line coach before spending one season each with the Chargers and Texans. With the Browns, guard Joel Bitiono reached his second-straight Pro Bowl under Campen and played in all 16 games.
Campen faces an offensive line remake with the Panthers. Coach Matt Rhule fired former offensive line coach Pat Meyer this offseason after an underwhelming year at the position. The Panthers were not a physically imposing run team and they struggled in pass protection, allowing 52 sacks, which was fifth-worst in the NFL.
He’ll work with proven veteran tackle Taylor Moton and center Pat Elfein while trying to develop young players, including Brady Christensen, Michael Jordan and Deonte Brown.
Panthers coaches, scouts and executives are in Mobile, Alabama this week gathering intel on the nation’s top seniors from across the country. Practice begins Tuesday with all eyes on quarterbacks, offensive linemen and play-making talent on both sides of the ball.
With Rhule recently hiring McAdoo and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, three of the Panthers’ four coaching vacancies are filled. Carolina is expected to hire a defensive line coach soon.
This story was originally published January 31, 2022 at 1:45 PM with the headline "Panthers hire offensive line coach with connections to new coordinator Ben McAdoo."
