AP source: Panthers postpone interviews after Walkes' death
By STEVE REED - Jan. 20, 2023 06:43 PM EST
A note saying 'thank you for the memories" is shown in a bouquet of flowers placed outside Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. Charlotte FC soccer player Anton Walkes died from injuries he sustained in a boat crash off the coast of Miami, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
A note saying 'thank you for the memories" is shown in a bouquet of flowers placed outside Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. Charlotte FC soccer player Anton Walkes died from injuries he sustained in a boat crash off the coast of Miami, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have postponed interviews with head coaching candidates Sean Payton and Kellen Moore after the death of Charlotte FC soccer player Anton Walkes, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Panthers owner David Tepper and other members of the search committee returned to Charlotte on Thursday from New York, where they had planned interview Payton, to support the grieving Charlotte FC players. Walkes was killed Wednesday in a boat crash in Miami. Tepper was on hand for a vigil outside of Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium on Thursday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the team does not disclose details of its coaching search.

Tepper owns Charlotte FC, an MLS team that recently completed its first season.

The Panthers have interviewed or scheduled interviews with nearly a dozen candidates. Tepper is weighing whether to keep interim coach Steve Wilks or hire a coach from outside the organization.

The Panthers went 7-10 this season, including 6-6 under Wilks, who replaced the fired Matt Rhule.

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