Why is Matt Rhule suing Panthers? All you need to know about ex-NFL head coach’s arbitration suit

Former Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule is suing his former team. The lawsuit, which was filed on Jan. 25, says the Panthers owe him an unspecified amount of money in severance compensation since he was fired and then was hired by the University of Nebraska.

According to CBS Sports, although the exact financial compensation isn't stated, it could be around $5 million due to the contract that he had with the Panthers. As in previous cases, this lawsuit will likely go to an arbitrator appointed by the National Football League. The arbitrator deals with all employment and compensation and typically works out a resolution that both parties will be satisfied with.

But the Carolina Panthers may have a case if they choose to fight the arbitration lawsuit. The Panthers signed Rhule to a seven-year contract worth $60 million, which averages out to $8.5 million a season. When he was hired to coach Nebraska in November, he signed an eight-year contract worth $74 million.

The Panthers could argue that Matt Rhule's new contract with Nebraska violates the NFL's anti-tampering policy due to the fact that his contract with the university has an "unreasonable" 20 percent increase in base salary through the life on the contract.

The policy also doesn't mention whether the contract would have to be with the NFL or NCAA. So, the Carolina Panthers may have grounds to have the case dismissed.

What was Matt Rhule's record with the Carolina Panthers?

Matt Rhule was hired by the Carolina Panthers in January 2020. The Panthers fired him after Week 5 of the 2022 season. During his tenure, the team had just a 11-27 record. Carolina started 1-4 this season.

This was Rhule's first experience in the NFL. He previously coached Temple and then Baylor. His resume at turning those programs around is what led the Panthers to hiring him.

He was unable to do so in the more than two seasons he was there. He will now try to turn around the Nebraska Cornhuskers as they have underperformed the last few seasons.

The Carolina Panthers announced late last week that they have hired former Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich to replace Rhule.