Bryce Young may not qualify for Comeback Player of the Year, but he is hands-down the best success story of the 2024 season. At the start of the season, Young’s play was poor and littered with turnovers. After a 0-2 start, Young was benched.
It was a shocking decision and it either drew criticism from fans and players or unnamed analysts agreed on the benching. During this time, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales had to deny trade rumors and defend his decision.
The former No. 1 pick’s future was unclear – would he ever start for the Panthers again or would Young get a fresh start somewhere else?
Then in Week 8, Young was reinstated as OB1. Young went on to lead the Panthers to a 4-6 record (5-12 overall). Although the Panthers never reached a .500 record, something had changed. Young got his smile back, he was slinging it down field and making plays with his feet. Four out of the six losses were one score games – the Panthers were punching above their weight class and giving Super Bowl contenders a run for their money.
In today’s overtime thriller vs. the Atlanta Falcons, Young completed 25-of-34 passes for 251 yards, 24 rushing yards and five total touchdowns in a 44-38 win. Following the win, Canales and Young’s teammates were ecstatic with Young’s performance.
#Panthers HC Dave Canales on Bryce Young:
“Bryce [Young] is our quarterback… It’s a great feeling. It allows us to just look at the whole roster to see what the investments need to be. It helps us to think about free agency and the draft with the lens knowing we got our guy.” pic.twitter.com/8cWaJDK5I2
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) January 6, 2025
“I’m so proud of the way he took the challenge and just grew every week. He just took new lessons, new things, applied it to his game. [He] was engaged, challenging the guys, the whole thing,” Canales said about Young’s growth. “He’s done a great job also of continuing to push the group – regardless of the situation – working the sideline, working his teammates, working on his game.”
The second-year QB finished his 2024 campaign with 2,403 passing yards and 15 TDS, nine INTS, 249 rushing yards and six TDS, a completion percentage of 60.9 and a QBR of 54.5.
Veteran wideout Adam Thielen, who joined the Panthers when Young was drafted, was also proud of the way Young earned QB1 again.
Panthers WR Adam Thielen says Bryce Young earned the right to be the starting QB entering 2025. pic.twitter.com/Ezxlmgf2jt
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) January 5, 2025
“In this league you have to earn it. Every single time you step on that field, every time you step on the practice field you have to earn it,” Thielen said in a post-game interview. “He’s proven it and [it’s] exciting to see. His mentality and his process over these last eight weeks has been locked in and being able to see him be himself, going out there and compete, he’s earned it.”
While Thielen and Canales played it somewhat cool with Young’s development over the season, tight end Tommy Tremble did not shy away from pointing out his QB’s accolades.
Panthers TE Tommy Tremble says Bryce Young is the best quarterback in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/d86Hu0yvaW
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) January 5, 2025
“He’s No. 1 overall pick, he’s a Heisman winner, he’s a ball player…Personally he’s a top QB in his league,” Tremble said. “I love Bryce. He works his butt off to do this stuff. He doesn’t just come and show up, he does the work and that’s the most special thing.”
During the post-game presser, Canales also confirmed that Young will be QB1 heading into next season. Hopefully Young is able to build off the success he found late in the season and the organization can properly build around the young star.
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