Dave Canales’ Career Highlights & Awards »

Dave Canales is an American football coach, is currently the head coach for the Carolina Panthers. He has previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, and the University of Southern California.

Canales played college football at Azusa Pacific University and El Camino College, where he served as offensive coordinator. He joined USC Trojans head coach Pete Carroll in 2009 and later became the wide receivers coach for the Seattle Seahawks. Canales was recognized for his role in Geno Smith’s comeback, winning NFL Comeback Player of the Year and making his first Pro Bowl participation. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023 and appointed the Carolina Panthers head coach in January 2024.

Dave Canales Career

Dave Canales played college football at Azusa Pacific University and Carson High School. He began his coaching career at Carson High School, where he served as head coach and offensive coordinator from 2004 to 2005. He later joined El Camino College, where he served as tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.

Canales formed a relationship with Pete Carroll, the head coach of the USC Trojans, and in 2009, he joined Carroll as an assistant strength coach for one season. Canales later joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2010, where he won his first Super Bowl title. He spent 13 years with the Seahawks, serving in various offensive roles.

From 2010 to 2017, Canales served as wide receivers coach, then as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator from 2018 to 2022. Canales was credited with the resurgence of quarterback Geno Smith, who was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2022 and earned his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Canales was hired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their offensive coordinator in 2023, replacing Byron Leftwich. In 2024, he was hired as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Canales’s coaching career has been marked by success, including a successful tenure with the Seahawks and a successful tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.