Dave Canales finally cracked a smile after his first win
Sep 22, 2024
LAS VEGAS — Usually, you can't wipe the smile off Dave Canales' face. Sunday, it took a little work to find one, though it eventually broke through.
As much as the Panthers tried to make the 36-22 win over the Raiders something resembling normal, it was a special day for many reasons, including the fact their rookie head coach had just won his first NFL game.
In describing it, he kept talking about the process. Canales may be young and energetic, but he is very much a grinder and wants his team to be that way too. But eventually, he cracked.
"Oh, I'm smiling inside," he said near the end of his press conference. "I'm absolutely beat. This has been an amazing week but again, just a really heavy week. And with all the factors you know and just getting back to work and continuing to push to establish our culture and process, I'm thrilled. I'm so joyful."
Quarterback Andy Dalton teased his coach because his face wasn't screaming "joyful" throughout the day. He didn't show it much on the sidelines or at the beginning of his press conference, but the players who have been around him for months could tell how much it meant to get his first win as an NFL head coach.
"I mean, he's obviously excited. It's his first one," Dalton said. "I thought his demeanor the whole game was steady and that's just kind of how he is.
"I tried to get him to smile a couple of times, and he kept his straight face for the most part, but I know without a doubt he's enjoying this. The way this one went meant a lot."
For Canales, it was one win among many challenges faced by those around him.
Long snapper JJ Jansen played in his 246th game with the Panthers Sunday. It was Canales' first win but Jansen's 106th; he noted how Canales navigated a "heavy" week due to quarterback Bryce Young's benching.
"One of the most important jobs of a leader is to provide calm in the storm," Jansen said. "Dave stayed calm in the eye of the media storm this week. He kept us focused on preparation day-to-day and dialed into what we needed to do as a team to win on Sunday."
Jansen said that trickled down through Dalton and team captains because they followed Canales' lead during a week when national media scrutiny was prevalent.
"Dave is so positive and so encouraging," Jansen said. "What he also loves to do is celebrate players and their performances."
"I'm sure there's always an element of needing time for this sink in,” Jansen continued “Winning in NFL is hard... it's tremendous accomplishment for him... I hope he'll give himself few minutes let sink cherish things done get here... like all us we're onto Cincinnati."
Canales maintained focus despite Sunday's special significance:
"It was just great picture Panthers football," Canales said." Being able run ball stopping run playing complementary football third down taking advantage red zone opportunities whole thing coverage units flying around great energy chasing carryover great week... props whole group continuing trust process.”
"This is great starting point us play our kind football really excited get back home work another great week."
His family attended from Los Angeles:
"I could see exactly where he was," Canales said." The black vest gray goatee standing out up there."
His mother field pre-game brothers cousins kids:
"It means lot able get this first win while they were here,” Canales added.” So really special moment.”
Quarterback Andy Dalton emphasized trusting process preached by Coach Dave:
"It's not me it's process,” Dalton stated.” From very beginning moment got here preaching stay course stay course if we do good things going happen today good thing happened."
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