NEW ORLEANS — Early Sunday morning, Baylor players started seeing notifications about a report stating head coach Matt Rhule would be interviewing for a head coaching job with the Carolina Panthers.

About three hours later, before practice at the New Orleans Saints’ facility, Rhule decided to address the elephant in the room with his team and coaching staff.

“He said, if he has an opportunity to talk with an NFL team, it would be kinda dumb not to,” sophomore linebacker Terrel Bernard said. “Just for him, personally. We have a veteran team, I think all the guys understand where he’s coming from.”

Rhule didn’t speak to the media Sunday, and defensive coordinator Phil Snow declined to address the report about Rhule interviewing with Carolina.

But five defensive players spoke to the media and were willing to discuss the meeting and what it might mean for the future of the Baylor football program.

Rhule has been with Baylor for three seasons, turning a 1-11 team into an 11-2 team that is now entering its first Sugar Bowl in 62 years. The No. 7 Bears (11-2) will face No. 5 Georgia (11-2) at 7:45 p.m., Wednesday.

“He just came in there and told us straight up, what he thought, and what he wanted to do and what was going,[on]” said senior linebacker Jordan Williams. “He’s just gonna tell us if he makes a decision.”

Rhule told the team that NFL interest in him is a direct result of Baylor’s success. And the players present Sunday said they respected how he addressed the situation head-on. Whether it’s just the Panthers that want him to interview him, or other NFL teams as well, remains unclear.

Rhule is under contract at Baylor through the end of the 2027 season. It is unclear how much he would owe in order to buy out his pact.

“I know he’s going to be with us no matter what, he told us that,” said junior defensive tackle James Lynch. “And I trust him on everything he says. He’s a great coach and he deserves that, too. I feel like the best thing for us to worry about is just going out and playing well again, to show Baylor who is and who we are.”

Lynch’s thoughts on the subject might be the most important. He’s a junior and would be a top defensive player if he decides to return. He hasn’t yet decided whether to go pro.

But Lynch has played his entire college career for Rhule, and it would be interesting to see how the coach’s job status could affect Lynch’s future with the Bears.

“No matter what, he’ll support us,” Lynch said. “Wherever he is, whatever he decides to do, whatever. I just know we’ll be in the Sugar Bowl.”

Rhule will next address the media Tuesday. It’s possible then that the public will get a better idea of when and where he will be interviewed. Monday represents a day when a lot of NFL head coaching jobs become open — and the Panthers might find some company in terms of teams courting Baylor’s head coach.

Much of the 2019 season has felt like a new beginning of sorts in Waco. A football program that had, just years ago, been rightfully tarnished has been revitalized. And now, because of that success, it’s possible that 2020 might call for a new beginning all over again.

“I would love to see him get an opportunity at the next level,” said senior defensive tackle Bravvion Roy. “I really believe in my heart that he’s an NFL coach.”