Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera stood huddled next to linebackers coach Steve Russ in the second quarter of last week’s loss at Tampa Bay.
And that was the “tell,” for those with a keen eye and an understanding of how helmet microphones are wired.
Rivera took over the defensive play-calling on Sunday, a day before demoting defensive coordinator Eric Washington to “front seven coach” in role but not in title.
His increased communication with Russ meant a direct line to middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, the “quarterback” of the defense. That line is reserved for the defensive coordinator, because part of Kuechly’s job is to then communicate those calls to the rest of the defense.