REVEALED: Panthers’ new head coach Dave Canales co-wrote a book about infidelity, binge drinking and addiction to pornography… and Carolina was aware before hiring him last week

Dave Canales is ready to begin his journey as head coach of the Carolina Panthers, 16 months after co-authoring a faith-based book about coming to terms with his sexual infidelity, addiction to pornography and binge drinking.

The book ‘This marriage? The Question That Changed Everything’ was written by Canales and his wife Lizzy. It describes how the 42-year-old coach worked to overcome his problems and the couple found their way back to a healthy, Christian marriage.

Canales wrote that, with the help of counseling and family, he no longer has problems with infidelity or pornography and has stopped drinking completely.

Canales published the book in September 2022 while he was still a position coach for the Seattle Seahawks and before he got his big break, becoming offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, putting him one step away from becoming a head coach.

The couple said they wrote the book to help other couples struggling with their marriages.

The book ‘This marriage? The Question That Changed Everything’, written by Dave Canales and his wife Lizzy

Canales admitted in his book that he cheated on Lizzy just a month before their wedding day

“We wanted other people to feel safe as they begin this journey toward a vibrant marriage by helping them realize they are not alone,” the couple wrote in the book’s foreword.

The couple said writing the book and reliving the painful details of their past was like going through another round of counseling, but it helped them “find renewed healing and hope through a better understanding of what happened.” has happened’.

The Panthers said they were aware of the book before hiring Canales last week.

A team spokesman said Canales would not be available for comment until his introductory news conference in Charlotte on Thursday.

Canales wrote in the book how he eventually made some “dark confessions” about his infidelity to his wife.

“A large part of the broken intimacy I experienced with Lizzy came from my addiction to pornography,” Canales wrote. ‘It was a kind of gateway drug for me, creating pathways in my brain that allowed me to coolly use sex for my own benefit. It was a secret, silent battle I fought years before my marriage.”

He also wrote about how he cheated on Lizzy a month before they got married.

“From the beginning of our relationship, I was drinking and hanging out with friends, without Lizzy,” Canales wrote. ‘Before I was ever unfaithful to her, I was already there in my mind. Bad habits combined with addiction made it difficult for me to resist temptation. It was a pattern I knew before we started dating.”

Canales also described himself as a “recovering narcissist” and explained how he had to work hard to “develop the skills necessary to move beyond myself and my needs.”

Canales also described himself as a “recovering narcissist” and explained how he had to work hard to “develop the skills necessary to move beyond myself and my needs.”

Regarding his problems with drinking, Canales wrote, “I have stopped drinking alcohol altogether, knowing that I have no great restraint in that area, and it numbs me to making other bad choices.”

He described how early in his marriage, although he went to church, he would occasionally go out with friends, take off his wedding ring on certain occasions and pretend that he was not married.

Canales said the long hours as an NFL assistant coach were not the cause of his problems, but rather gave him more opportunities to make bad decisions.

The couple wrote the book knowing that exposing their painful and deeply personal secrets and issues could hinder Canales’ ability to land future jobs in the NFL. They said their marriage is now stronger than ever and that their faith in God has helped them, discussing the importance of faith and prayer.

Canales with Lizzy, his wife and their four children: Ashby, Benjamin, Beatrice and Amaya

Lizzy Canales wrote in the book that this essentially meant that the old marriage burned to the ground and at the same time something entirely new emerged from the ashes.

“Many are shocked when we tell them,” the couple wrote. “For some, it’s incredibly uncomfortable and perhaps even judgmental. For others it is a breath of fresh air and an invitation to delve deeper into their own relationships.’

The couple has four children.

In the foreword to the book, former NFL coach Tony Dungy wrote, “Unlike so many couples today, they did not let their marriage wither. They didn’t want to let it go.

“So instead, David and Lizzy decided to get things back on track and rediscover that sense of purpose and that intimacy they had in the beginning. I’m happy to let you know they’ve done just that.”