Will Harriger enters his second season with Carolina as a quarterbacks coach, joining the Panthers after spending the 2023 season with the Dallas Cowboys. Harriger brings 21 seasons of coaching experience to the team, including over a decade in the NFL. Over his last three seasons, Harriger has worked with 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, 2023 NFL Most Valuable Player runner-up Dak Prescott, and last year, with former first-overall pick Bryce Young during the quarterback's resurgent second season.
During Harriger's first season with the Panthers (2024), he was key part in the development of Young, as the second-year quarterback set a career high in touchdowns (21). In six of the final nine games, Young led the Panthers on game-tying or game-winning drives and threw at least two touchdown passes in three-straight games to end the season and a passing touchdown in each of the last 10 after returning to the starting lineup in Week 8.
Harriger spent the 2023 season as an offensive assistant/quality control coach for the Cowboys, assisting in the passing game. That season, quarterback Dak Prescott was named second-team All-Pro and earned his third Pro Bowl invite, while finishing second in NFL MVP voting and posting league-bests in passing touchdowns (36) and completions (410). Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb earned first-team All-Pro distinctions and his third Pro Bowl nod, while reeling in 135 receptions (sixth in NFL history) for 1,749 yards (eighth in NFL history) with 12 touchdowns – all career highs.
At Southern California (2022), Harriger served as a senior offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach. Under his tutelage, quarterback Caleb Williams won the Heisman Trophy after the quarterback tallied 4,537 passing yards (third nationally) and 42 touchdowns (first in Pac-12) with only five interceptions. Williams also rushed for 382 yards and 10 scores.
In 2021, Harriger was an offensive assistant coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he helped quarterback Trevor Lawrence set franchise rookie records for completions (359) and passing yards (3,641). Prior to his tenure in Jacksonville, Harriger spent two seasons in Atlanta (2019-20) as an offensive assistant/running backs coach for the Falcons.
Initially an offensive assistant in his first year with the Seahawks in 2014, Harriger was promoted to assistant quarterbacks coach in 2015, as quarterback Russell Wilson led the NFL with career best 110.1 passer rating. During Harriger's tenure with the Seahawks (2014-18), Wilson was selected to the Pro Bowl twice (2017-18) and led the NFL in passing touchdowns in 2017 (34).
Prior to his time in the NFL, Harriger spent a decade coaching in the collegiate ranks, including two seasons at Florida (2012-13), two at Texas Tech (2010-11), two at UT-Martin (2006, 2009), one at Texas (2008), one at his alma mater Auburn (2007), and two at Midwestern State (2004-05).
Harriger earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Auburn after prepping at Trinity Christian (Texas) HS. He and his wife, Brooke, have four children, Daisy, William IV (Bud), Dorothy and Margaret.
- 2004-05 | Midwestern State - Graduate Assistant (Outside Linebackers)
- 2006 | Tennessee-Martin - Graduate Assistant (Tight Ends)
- 2007 | Auburn - Defensive Assistant
- 2008 | Texas - Quality Control/Defense
- 2009 | Tennessee-Martin - Linebackers
- 2010-11 | Texas Tech - Defensive Assistant
- 2012-13 | Florida - Defensive Intern
- 2014 | Seattle Seahawks - Offensive Assistant
- 2015-18 | Seattle Seahawks - Assistant Quarterbacks
- 2019-20 | Atlanta Falcons - Offensive Assistant/Running Backs
- 2021 | Jacksonville Jaguars - Offensive Assistant
- 2022 | Southern California - Senior Offensive Analyst/Quarterbacks
- 2023 | Dallas Cowboys - Offensive Assistant/Quality Control
- 2024- | Carolina Panthers - Quarterbacks
