The Carolina Panthers have parted ways with Cole Spencer, their director of player personnel, and long-time scout Robert Haines, as part of several organizational changes occurring after the NFL draft, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. This marks a significant shift in the Panthers’ scouting and personnel structure.
Cole Spencer’s Journey to Panthers’ Director Role
Cole Spencer began his career in football operations and coaching at Eastern Illinois before entering the NFL in 2010 as a scouting intern with Washington. He quickly advanced to a regional scouting position in 2011 and spent eight years covering the northeast, midwest, and southeast regions. Spencer’s last two years with Washington were as a national scout. In 2021, he joined the Panthers as director of college scouting and was promoted to director of player personnel in 2023.
Robert Haines’ Long Tenure with Carolina Panthers
Robert Haines, a local to the area, has spent his entire 22-year career with the Panthers. He started in the team‘s video department before shifting to the personnel department in 2005 as a college scouting assistant. Over the years, Haines advanced to pro scouting assistant, combine scout, regional scout, and finally served as a national scout during his last three seasons. He covered the northeast region for over a decade before moving to the southeast area in 2021.
Internal Restructuring Expected to Cover Departed Roles
No official announcements have been made regarding replacements for Spencer or Haines. However, the Panthers plan to absorb these roles internally, likely delegating responsibilities to existing staff such as Jared Kirksey, director of college scouting, and assistant director David Whittington. This move suggests a restructuring approach focusing on utilizing current personnel to maintain continuity in scouting operations.
Implications for Panthers’ Scouting and Personnel Strategy
The departure of Cole Spencer and Robert Haines represents a strategic shift for the Panthers as they seek to realign their scouting and player personnel departments. With significant experience lost in both regional and national scouting, the team‘s ability to identify talent will hinge on how well the remaining staff adapts to these expanded roles. Moving forward, careful internal coordination will be essential to sustain scouting effectiveness amid these changes.