SPRINGFIELD — At the end of the 2019 season, Tyler Marz wanted another chance to prove himself at the NFL and he got his wish a few days after Christmas.

After finishing the 2019 season on the Carolina Panthers practice squad, Marz has returned to the Panthers on a future’s contract.

Marz, who was cut by the Tennessee Titans on the final cut day before the 53-man roster was finalized, signed with the Panthers in Week 16 and was placed on the practice squad. He signed a futures contract with the Panthers on Dec. 31, meaning he will workout with the team prior to the season and he has a shot of making the team or can be placed on the practice squad.

His late season signing with the Panthers gave him an opportunity to see how they conduct business there after spending time with the Titans (2018) and the Los Angeles Chargers (2017). Prior to playing for the Chargers, he was on Tennessee’s practice squad after signing with them as an undrafted free agent after graduating from Wisconsin.

The Panthers hired Matt Rhule as their head coach after firing longtime coach Ron Rivera. Rivera was the team’s head coach for nine seasons, compiling a 76-63-1 record (.546) along the way.

“It was hard, they were out of the playoffs when I got there and they had already fired their coach a couple of weeks prior to when I got there,” Marz said. “It was hard to get a good feel of me fitting, but I picked up on the offense right away and they got a new coach and new coordinator hired already so it’s going to be completely different. I’ve heard good things from the front office so I’m excited to get back down there and get to work.”

Even with the new coaching staff, he thinks it’ll be easier for him to adjust to the new offense because he’s been around football long enough.

“I think it’s definitely easier for me, because even the two weeks that I spent there, I picked up on the playbook pretty well and the language that they use,” he said. “I’ve been in two or three different systems already and I’ve heard probably every term there is and every play there is. For me, it’s just chatergorizing things and learning them that way. I think I’m in a good position and this was a good opportunity for me to get on with another team and show them what I can do.”

After being cut by the Titans, Marz took it upon himself to conduct his workouts in Springfield, where he grew up. He graduated from Springfield High School in 2011 and played his college football at Wisconsin.

“I was able to just keep working out and stayed in shape on my own and stayed motivated, which got kind of tough,” he said. “The longer the season went along, I didn’t get a call but I had a couple of workouts early on. That kept me going, but I was just glad at the end that I got another opportunity.”

He’ll continue his offseason workouts and head to the Panthers in April. He’s looking forward to the 2020 season.

“I think it’s just going to be good to get around a new set of coaches and a new set of front office people and show them that I can play in this league and that I deserve a chance,” he said. “I’m just ready to get back to work, I was sitting at home for 14, 15 weeks. It’s hard to sit and watch football on Sundays when you’re not there.”