Panthers
| Carolina Panthers coach Canales values special teamers |
| Published Thursday, September 24, 2026 7:03 pm |
Carolina Panthers coach Canales values special teamers
| TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST |
| Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales emphasizes special teams as an important phase of football, where a play can turn field position or flip momentum. |
As a senior for Azusa Pacific in 2003, David Canales’ special teams duty produced one of his favorite football moments.
Lining up next to his brother Coba, a sophomore who transferred to the NAIA program from the University of Pennsylvania, the future Carolina Panthers coach couldn’t recall the result of the kickoff, but the memory remains.
“Just like we were at the park (as) kids running down trying to blow stuff up,” Canales said with a grin. “Being able to be on kickoff cover was crazy. That was probably the highlight of my sports career.”
The family bond could be seen as a significant statement, considering Canales was an assistant quarterbacks/offensive quality control coach during the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl championship run in 2014.
Continuing to value his on-field experiences while rising through the NFL coachi...