ONE
In 1987, former Baltimore Colts wide receiver and businessman Jerry Richardson, wanted to bring professional football to Carolina. So, in December of that year, he entered the race for one of two available NFL expansion teams. On October 26, 1993, the league announced that Carolina was to receive an expansion franchise - which soon became known as the Panthers. With Dom Capers as the franchise’s first head coach, Carolina selected cornerback Rod Smith in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft and quarterback Kerry Collins in the 1995 NFL Draft - then hurtled towards their inaugural season.
Carolina Panthers Logo
TWO
The Panthers struggled to begin life in the NFL. Veteran quarterback Frank Reich started Carolina’s first regular season game in franchise history, but after losing the first three games of the year, he was replaced by Kerry Collins. Despite starting at 0-5, the Panthers managed to finish the year with seven wins - the most by an expansion team in its first season in league history. Somehow, things managed to get even better for Carolina the following season. Dom Capers won the NFL’s Coach of the Year Award after steering the Panthers to a 12-4 record, and the team advanced to the NFC Championship Game - however, they lost to the Green Bay Packers, 30-13.
THREE
After two unexpectedly successful seasons to begin life in the NFL, Carolina struggled for the next six. Dom Capers was fired following the conclusion of the 1998 season, after Carolina missed the playoffs for two straight years. Capers was then replaced by two-time Super Bowl champion, George Seifert. Carolina selected wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. in the 2001 NFL Draft - who developed into one of the franchise’s greatest-ever players. However, a 1-15 2001 season cost Seifert his job. John Fox was hired as the third head coach in franchise history. In the 2002 NFL Draft, he selected star defensive end and 2024 Hall of Fame inductee Julius Peppers. However, Fox also wanted to acquire a new quarterback.
Steve Smith Sr., Wide Receiver 2001-2013
FOUR
Quarterback Jake Delhomme went undrafted in 1997, but he soon found himself on the Panthers’ roster for the 2003 season. He took over as the starter halfway through the first game of the year, and behind Delhomme, Steve Smith Sr., and Julius Peppers, Carolina finished with an 11-5 record. The Panthers’ victories over the Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis Rams and Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Playoffs punched their ticket to Super Bowl XXXVIII, where they faced the New England Patriots. Despite Carolina being the underdogs, the game was tied 29-29 with just over one minute remaining. However, Adam Vinatieri broke the hearts of Panthers fans as he hit the game-winning field goal with just seconds left to play. The Panthers lost 32-29.
Super Bowl XXXVIII - Jake Delhomme, Quarterback 2003-2009
FIVE
With a devastating Super Bowl loss behind them, Carolina reached the playoffs just twice - including another NFC Championship Game appearance - in John Fox’s seven remaining years as the team’s head coach. The Panthers drafted running backs DeAngelo Williams in 2006 and Jonathan Stewart in 2008, but after the 2010 season yielded just two wins, Fox left the team. However, Panthers fans were still optimistic. Carolina held the first-overall pick in the upcoming draft and were in the market for a new quarterback. With the first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers selected quarterback Cam Newton - the team’s first draft pick under their new head coach, Ron Rivera. Although the Panthers ended the season 6-10, Newton was electric - and Carolina selected linebacker Luke Kuechly in the 2012 NFL Draft, giving the Panthers young stars on both sides of the ball. Carolina made the playoffs in 2013, Rivera was named the NFL’s Coach of the Year, and Kuechly the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year. However, the Panthers lost in the Divisional Round, in what proved to be Steve Smith Sr.’s final game for the franchise. In the 2014 season, Carolina somehow made the playoffs with just seven wins.
Luke Kuechly, Linebacker 2012-2019
SIX
The Carolina Panthers won 14 straight games to start the 2015 season. In fact, they won 15 of their 16 games - resulting in Ron Rivera, once again, being named the NFL’s Coach of the Year. Furthermore, after leading Carolina to a near-perfect season, Cam Newton was named NFL MVP. After pounding through the playoffs, Carolina advanced to Super Bowl 50 to face the Denver Broncos. The Panthers trailed throughout the entire game, but, with just over four minutes remaining, fought back to be within just six points. Unfortunately, Broncos linebacker Von Miller knocked the ball loose from Newton’s hand - Denver recovered the ball, scored another touchdown and won 24-10. Once again, the Panthers came agonisingly close to winning the game’s biggest prize.
Cam Newton, Quarterback 2011-2019, 2021
SEVEN
Despite another Pro Bowl season from Luke Kuechly, the Panthers won just one of their first six games the following season, before finishing the year 6-10. In the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected running back Christian McCaffrey and Carolina improved drastically. The team ended the season with an 11-5 record but lost in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. Newton struggled with injuries during the 2018 season and missed the final two games of the year to undergo shoulder surgery. Finishing 7-9, the franchise appeared to be at a crossroads - especially as founder Jerry Richardson sold the team to David Tepper for $2.275 billion in 2018.
EIGHT
Carolina Panthers fans entered the 2019 season with optimism, but that year saw the end of an era. Cam Newton only managed to appear in the team’s first two games of the season - missing the last 14 games with a foot injury. Following a Week 13 loss, head coach Ron Rivera was fired, and the team won just five games. Newton was released by the Panthers at the end of the season and Luke Kuechly left with him - as the linebacker announced his retirement at just 28 years of age. Rivera’s replacement was Matt Rhule, who won five games in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons as Christian McCaffrey struggled with injuries.
Christian McCaffrey, Running Back 2017-2022
NINE
Carolina struggled to find Cam Newton’s successor after he left the franchise - cycling through numerous starting quarterbacks during Matt Rhule’s tenure. In the 2022 season, the Panthers won just one of their first five games. As a result, Rhule was fired and Christian McCaffrey was traded to the 49ers, in a bid to save their season. To finally address the quarterback position, Carolina traded for the number one overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft - selecting quarterback Bryce Young. Young struggled terribly in his first season but had little to no help. With the addition of wide receivers Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette, fans will be hoping for a vast improvement from the franchise in the coming seasons.
Bryce Young, Quarterback 2023-Present
BEFORE YOU GO
The phrase "Keep Pounding" has become a rallying cry for the Panthers and their fans. It originates from a speech by the late Sam Mills, a beloved linebacker and coach, who encouraged the team to persevere and keep fighting regardless of the circumstances.
The Panthers set several records for an expansion team, including being the first to win a division title (in 1996) and the first to win a playoff game (also in 1996) in their second season.
According to Forbes, the Carolina Panthers net worth is estimated at $4.1 billion as of 2023.
