History of the Carolina Panthers
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Efforts to bring a National Football League (NFL) franchise to the Carolinas began in 1987, when former Baltimore Colts wide receiver Jerry Richardson led an expansion bid. NFL owners awarded the Carolinas the league's 29th franchise in October 1993, and the Carolina Panthers began play in 1995. Carolina played its 1995 home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, before moving to Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte in 1996. Carolina finished 7–9 in its first season and reached the NFC Championship Game in its second.
After five consecutive seasons without a playoff berth—including a 1–15 finish in 2001—the Panthers hired John Fox. Carolina won its first NFC championship during the 2003 postseason before losing Super Bowl XXXVIII to the New England Patriots. During that run, linebackers coach and former Panthers linebacker Sam Mills delivered the "Keep Pounding" speech that became the franchise's motto. The Fox era also included a return to the NFC Championship Game in 2005 and an NFC South title in 2008.
Under head coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton, Carolina won three consecutive NFC South titles from 2013 through 2015. The 2015 team finished a franchise-best 15–1, Newton was named NFL Most Valuable Player, and the Panthers won their second NFC championship before losing Super Bowl 50 to the Denver Broncos.
In December 2017, amid reports alleging workplace misconduct, Richardson announced that he would sell the franchise.[1][2] David Tepper purchased the team in 2018. The Panthers missed the playoffs in each season from 2018 through 2024, a period marked by repeated changes at head coach and quarterback. Under head coach Dave Canales, Carolina won the NFC South in 2025 and returned to the postseason for the first time since 2017.
Origins: 1987–1994
The effort to bring an NFL franchise to the Carolinas began on July 16, 1987, when former Baltimore Colts wide receiver Jerry Richardson met with prospective investors in Charlotte to discuss an expansion bid.[3][4] Richardson formally announced the bid on December 15, 1987. On December 15, 1989, Richardson Sports, the group leading the effort, selected a site in Uptown Charlotte for a privately financed stadium that would seat more than 70,000 people.[3]
The bid was promoted as a regional effort involving both North Carolina and South Carolina. U.S. senators Jesse Helms of North Carolina and Ernest Hollings of South Carolina lobbied NFL owners, while North Carolina governor Jim Martin and South Carolina governor Carroll A. Campbell Jr. formed a committee to support the proposal.[3] Bid organizers also arranged neutral-site NFL preseason games in 1989 at Carter–Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina; in 1990 at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and in 1991 at Williams–Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. All three games sold out, helping demonstrate regional support for professional football.[3][5]
By May 1992, the Carolinas were among five finalists for expansion, along with Baltimore, St. Louis, Memphis, and Jacksonville. The expansion process was delayed by the league's labor dispute and resumed in 1993.[3] On June 3, 1993, Richardson Sports announced plans to finance a 72,300-seat stadium through the sale of permanent seat licenses (PSLs), club seats, and luxury suites. First-day PSL orders totaled 41,632, and all club seats and luxury suites were reserved.[3] The PSL plan, developed with sports marketer Max Muhleman, became central to the stadium-financing proposal and helped fund what later became Bank of America Stadium.[5]
On October 26, 1993, NFL owners unanimously awarded the Carolinas the league's 29th franchise, its first expansion team since 1976.[3][6][4] Jacksonville was awarded the league's 30th franchise on November 30, and both teams were scheduled to begin play in 1995.[7] In November 1994, league owners assigned the Panthers to the NFC West and Jacksonville to the AFC Central.[8]
Dom Capers era: 1995–1998
The Panthers hired Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dom Capers as the first head coach in franchise history.[9]
Inaugural season and 1996 playoff run: 1995–1996
General manager Bill Polian assembled Carolina's inaugural roster through the expansion draft, free agency, and the 1995 NFL draft. The roster mixed veterans—including John Kasay, Sam Mills, and Frank Reich—with younger players such as rookie quarterback Kerry Collins.[10][11] The Panthers entered the NFL draft with the first overall pick but traded down and selected Collins fifth overall.[12][13]
Before the regular season, Carolina made its on-field debut in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL's other 1995 expansion team, 20–14 on July 29, 1995.[14][3] Because the team's stadium in Charlotte was still under construction, the Panthers played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.[15]
Carolina's regular-season debut was a 23–20 overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on September 3. Reich threw an 8-yard pass to Pete Metzelaars for the first regular-season touchdown in franchise history.[16] Reich started the first three games before Collins became Carolina's primary starting quarterback.[10]
After an 0–5 start, the Panthers earned their first regular-season victory on October 15, defeating the New York Jets 26–15 after Mills returned an interception for a touchdown.[17][11] Carolina won its next three games, including a 13–7 road victory over the defending Super Bowl XXIX champion San Francisco 49ers, becoming the first expansion team to defeat a reigning Super Bowl champion.[18][19] The Panthers finished 7–9, setting an NFL record for wins by an expansion team in its inaugural season.[3][10]
Carolina strengthened its roster with veteran quarterback Steve Beuerlein, tight end Wesley Walls, linebacker Kevin Greene, and cornerback Eric Davis, while the draft added wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad.[20][21]
The Panthers moved into Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte in 1996 after playing their inaugural home schedule at Memorial Stadium in Clemson.[22]
Carolina started the season 5–4 before winning its final seven regular-season games. The Panthers finished 12–4, went 8–0 at home, and won the NFC West, the first division title in franchise history.[23] The San Francisco 49ers also finished 12–4, but Carolina won the division tiebreaker after sweeping the season series.[23][21]
In the divisional round, Carolina won the first playoff game in franchise history, defeating the defending Super Bowl XXX champion Dallas Cowboys 26–17 at Ericsson Stadium.[24] The Panthers then lost 30–13 to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field.[21]
Eight Panthers earned 1997 Pro Bowl selections, and Capers was named Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year, becoming the first Panthers head coach to receive the award.[25][26]
Decline and Capers's dismissal: 1997–1998
After reaching the NFC Championship Game the previous season, Carolina finished 7–9, placed second in the NFC West, and missed the playoffs.[27][28]
Before the season, Carolina signed defensive lineman Sean Gilbert to a seven-year, $46.5 million contract, a move that cost the Panthers their 1999 and 2000 first-round draft picks as compensation to the Washington Redskins.[29]
Carolina opened the season with seven consecutive losses.[30] Kerry Collins started the first four games, but after a loss to the Atlanta Falcons, he asked head coach Dom Capers to remove him from the starting lineup. Steve Beuerlein became the starter, and Collins was waived by Carolina on October 13.[31][32]
The Panthers finished 4–12, the worst record in franchise history to that point, and missed the playoffs.[30][33] On December 28, one day after the season finale, Capers was fired after four seasons as Carolina's head coach.[33]
George Seifert era: 1999–2001
The Panthers hired former San Francisco 49ers head coach George Seifert as the second head coach in franchise history. Seifert had won two Super Bowls as head coach during his eight-season tenure with San Francisco.[34]
Playoff contention and decline: 1999–2000
In Seifert's first season, the Panthers finished 8–8, a four-win improvement from 1998 and the franchise's first 8–8 season.[35][36] Quarterback Steve Beuerlein led the NFL with 4,436 passing yards and set a franchise record with 36 touchdown passes.[35][37] Carolina entered the final week in contention for an NFC wild-card berth but missed the playoffs after finishing behind the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions in tiebreakers.[38][36]
The season was also marked by the criminal case involving wide receiver Rae Carruth, Carolina's 1997 first-round draft pick. Carruth was arrested in 1999 in connection with the shooting of Cherica Adams, who was pregnant with his child, and was convicted in 2001 of conspiracy to commit murder and two other charges.[39]
In head coach George Seifert's second season, Carolina finished 7–9, placed third in the NFC West, and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.[40]
Former Panthers running back Fred Lane, who had been traded from Carolina to the Indianapolis Colts earlier in 2000, was fatally shot at his Charlotte home in July 2000. His wife pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2003.[41]
The 1–15 season: 2001
The 2001 draft added linebacker Dan Morgan, defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, and wide receiver and returner Steve Smith, all of whom remained on the roster for Carolina's 2003 NFC championship season.[42][43]
After releasing longtime starting quarterback Steve Beuerlein during the offseason, Carolina entered the season with no quarterback on its roster who had previously started an NFL game. Rookie Chris Weinke opened the season as the starting quarterback.[44][42]
Carolina won its season opener before losing its remaining 15 games, finishing 1–15 and last in the NFC West. At the time, the 15-game skid was an NFL single-season record.[42][45][34]
George Seifert was fired on January 7, 2002, one day after the season finale. He finished his three-season tenure in Carolina with a 16–32 regular-season record and no playoff appearances.[34] The 2001 season was also Carolina's final season in the NFC West. As part of the NFL's 2002 realignment, the Panthers joined the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the newly created NFC South.[46]
John Fox era: 2002–2010
The Panthers hired New York Giants defensive coordinator John Fox as the third head coach in franchise history on January 25, 2002. At his introductory news conference, Fox emphasized running the ball and stopping the run as priorities for the team.[47]
Defensive rebuild and Super Bowl XXXVIII: 2002–2003
Carolina selected defensive end Julius Peppers with the second overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft. Peppers recorded 12 sacks in 12 games and was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.[48][49]
Carolina ended the 15-game losing streak carried over from 2001 and improved to 7–9. The Panthers' defense allowed the NFL's second-fewest yards and fifth-fewest points.[48][50][51]
The draft added offensive tackle Jordan Gross and cornerback Ricky Manning Jr., while Carolina signed quarterback Jake Delhomme, running back Stephen Davis, and wide receiver Ricky Proehl.[43][52] Davis rushed for 1,444 yards and eight touchdowns, while Steve Smith led the team with 1,110 receiving yards.[43]
The season was also marked by cancer diagnoses for two members of the organization. Linebacker Mark Fields missed the season after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma during training camp, and linebackers coach Sam Mills was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in August 2003 but continued coaching during treatment.[53][54] Mills' pregame address before Carolina's wild-card playoff game later became associated with the franchise's "Keep Pounding" motto.[54]
Rodney Peete opened the regular season as Carolina's starting quarterback, but Delhomme replaced him to start the second half of the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars and led a 24–23 comeback win, capped by a late touchdown pass to Proehl.[55] Delhomme became the starter the following week.[43] Carolina won its first five games and finished 11–5. The Panthers won the NFC South and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1996.[43][56] The team's close finishes, including five overtime games and, counting the postseason, 14 games decided by a touchdown or less, led to the nickname "Cardiac Cats".[57]
In the wild-card round, Carolina defeated the Dallas Cowboys 29–10. Carolina then defeated the St. Louis Rams 29–23 in double overtime in the divisional round at the Edward Jones Dome, winning on a 69-yard touchdown pass from Delhomme to Smith on the first play of the second overtime.[43][58] In the NFC Championship Game, Carolina defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 14–3 at Lincoln Financial Field, with Manning intercepting three passes.[59] The win gave the Panthers their first NFC championship and sent the franchise to Super Bowl XXXVIII.[60]
In Super Bowl XXXVIII, played at Reliant Stadium in Houston on February 1, 2004, Carolina lost 32–29 to the New England Patriots.[61] The Panthers tied the game late in the fourth quarter on a touchdown pass from Delhomme to Proehl, but New England won on Adam Vinatieri's 41-yard field goal with four seconds remaining.[61]
Injuries and the 2005 playoff run: 2004–2005
Carolina's season was disrupted by injuries to several key players, including Steve Smith, Kris Jenkins, Stephen Davis, and DeShaun Foster. After a 1–7 start, the Panthers won six of their next seven games but finished 7–9 and missed the playoffs.[62][63][64][65]
The 2005 draft added linebacker Thomas Davis, who played 14 seasons for Carolina.[66][67]
Wide receiver Steve Smith returned from the broken leg that had ended his 2004 season. Smith led the NFL in receiving yards and tied for the league lead in receptions and touchdown catches, finishing with 103 receptions, 1,563 receiving yards, and 12 touchdown catches.[68][66] He also shared the Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year award with New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi.[69]
After a 1–2 start, Carolina won six consecutive games and went on to finish 11–5.[66] The Panthers tied the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the best record in the NFC South, but Tampa Bay won the division tiebreaker and Carolina entered the playoffs as a wild-card team.[66]
In the wild-card round, the Panthers defeated the New York Giants 23–0 at Giants Stadium.[70] Carolina then defeated the Chicago Bears 29–21 at Soldier Field in the divisional round, with Smith recording 12 receptions for 218 yards and two touchdowns.[71] The Panthers reached the NFC Championship Game for the third time in franchise history but lost 34–14 to the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on January 22, 2006.[72]
Missed playoffs and quarterback instability: 2006–2007
Carolina finished 8–8 and missed the playoffs in 2006.[73][74]
In 2007, Jake Delhomme underwent season-ending elbow surgery after three games. The Panthers used four starting quarterbacks and finished 7–9, missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season.[75][76][77]
Division title and end of the Fox era: 2008–2010
Carolina's offense was built around running backs DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart. Williams rushed for 1,515 yards and 18 touchdowns, while Stewart added 836 yards and 10 touchdowns.[78]
The Panthers finished 12–4, a five-win improvement from the previous season, went 8–0 at home, and won the NFC South for the second time in franchise history.[79] Carolina clinched the division in the regular-season finale, a 33–31 road win over the New Orleans Saints.[78][80]
After a first-round bye, Carolina lost 33–13 to the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium in the divisional round on January 10, 2009.[78][81] Quarterback Jake Delhomme committed six turnovers.[82]
After Delhomme suffered a broken finger, Matt Moore started the final five games as Carolina recovered to finish 8–8.[83][84][85] Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams became the first pair of running backs on the same NFL team to each surpass 1,100 rushing yards in one season.[86]
The Panthers entered the 2010 season after several major roster changes. Quarterback Jake Delhomme, Carolina's primary starter since 2003, was released on March 4, while defensive end Julius Peppers signed with the Chicago Bears as an unrestricted free agent and wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad retired.[87][49][88]
Carolina started three quarterbacks during the season: Matt Moore, Jimmy Clausen, and Brian St. Pierre.[89] The Panthers finished 2–14, last in the NFC South, and had the worst record in the NFL.[90] The record gave Carolina the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, which the team later used to select quarterback Cam Newton.[89][91]
On December 31, before the regular-season finale, the Panthers announced that John Fox would not return as head coach after the season. Fox ended his nine-season tenure in Carolina with a 73–71 regular-season record, three playoff appearances, two NFC Championship Game appearances, and one Super Bowl appearance.[92]
Ron Rivera era: 2011–2019
After John Fox's tenure ended following the 2010 season, the Panthers hired San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera as the fourth head coach in franchise history on January 11, 2011.[93]
Rebuilding around Newton and Kuechly: 2011–2012
With the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, Carolina selected Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner.[91] The Panthers also acquired tight end Greg Olsen from the Chicago Bears in July.[94]
Newton opened his career with consecutive 400-yard passing games, becoming the first player in NFL history to throw for more than 400 yards in each of his first two games.[95] He finished the season with a then-NFL rookie record 4,051 passing yards and a then-NFL single-season quarterback record 14 rushing touchdowns.[96] Newton was named Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Panthers player to win the award.[97]
Carolina finished 6–10, a four-win improvement from the previous season, and placed third in the NFC South.[98]
Before the season, the Panthers introduced a refined logo and wordmark, the franchise's first logo update since entering the NFL in 1995.[99] Carolina selected linebacker Luke Kuechly ninth overall in the 2012 NFL draft.[100] Kuechly was named Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after the season.[101]
Carolina started the season 1–5, and longtime general manager Marty Hurney was fired on October 22 after more than a decade with the organization.[100][102] After falling to 2–8, the Panthers won five of their final six games and finished 7–9, placing second in the NFC South and missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.[100] After the season, the Panthers announced that Ron Rivera would return as head coach in 2013.[103]
Three consecutive division titles and Super Bowl 50: 2013–2015
The Panthers hired longtime New York Giants executive Dave Gettleman as general manager on January 9, 2013; his first draft added defensive tackles Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short.[104][105] Carolina's defense allowed 241 points and 4,820 total yards that season, ranking second in the NFL in both categories.[106]
After a 1–3 start, Carolina won 11 of its final 12 regular-season games to finish 12–4 and win the NFC South. Rivera's increased willingness to attempt fourth-down conversions during the turnaround contributed to the nickname "Riverboat Ron". The Panthers lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round.[107][108][109][110]
After the season, Rivera was named Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year, and linebacker Luke Kuechly was named Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Panthers player to receive the award.[108][111]
Before the season, the Panthers released longtime wide receiver Steve Smith, who was then the franchise's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, total touchdowns, and 100-yard receiving games.[112]
Defensive end Greg Hardy was placed on the NFL commissioner's exempt list in September while a domestic violence case against him was pending.[113] A judge had found Hardy guilty of assault on a female and communicating threats, but the verdict was set aside under North Carolina law when he requested a jury trial.[114] Prosecutors dismissed the charges in February 2015 after saying they could not locate the accuser for the scheduled jury trial; the district attorney's office also said it had reliable information that the parties had reached a civil settlement.[114] Hardy appeared in only one game that season, and the Panthers did not attempt to re-sign him; Richardson later said he had made the decision not to retain Hardy.[115]
Carolina recovered from a 3–8–1 start by winning its final four games, becoming the first repeat NFC South champion. At 7–8–1, the Panthers were also the second NFL team in a full season to win a division with a losing record.[116][117][118]
In the wild-card round, Carolina defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27–16 at Bank of America Stadium, the franchise's first postseason victory since the 2005 season. The Panthers held Arizona to 78 total yards, the fewest allowed in an NFL postseason game.[119] Carolina then lost 31–17 to the eventual NFC champion Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round at CenturyLink Field.[120]
Carolina finished a franchise-best 15–1, opened the season with 14 consecutive wins, and won its third consecutive NFC South title.[121][122][123] Cam Newton accounted for 45 combined passing and rushing touchdowns and was named Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year; Rivera earned his second Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year award.[96][124][125]
After a first-round bye, Carolina defeated the Seattle Seahawks 31–24 in the divisional round and the Arizona Cardinals 49–15 in the NFC Championship Game, giving the Panthers their second NFC championship and first Super Bowl appearance since Super Bowl XXXVIII.[126][127] In Super Bowl 50, played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, Carolina lost 24–10 to the Denver Broncos.[128]
Post-Super Bowl decline and Richardson's decision to sell: 2016–2017
During the offseason, after the sides did not reach a long-term agreement, the Panthers rescinded the non-exclusive franchise tag on cornerback Josh Norman, making him an unrestricted free agent.[129] Norman signed with the Washington Redskins two days later.[130]
Carolina finished 6–10 in 2016, ending its three-year run as NFC South champion and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2012.[131]
During the offseason, quarterback Cam Newton underwent surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder, and defensive end Julius Peppers returned to Carolina, the team that had selected him second overall in the 2002 NFL draft.[132][133] Carolina selected running back Christian McCaffrey eighth overall in the 2017 NFL draft.[134]
The Panthers also changed general managers shortly before training camp. On July 17, owner Jerry Richardson relieved general manager Dave Gettleman of his duties, and Carolina hired former general manager Marty Hurney as interim general manager two days later.[135][136]
In December, the Panthers announced an internal investigation into Richardson's workplace conduct, and Sports Illustrated later reported that former team employees had received confidential settlements connected to allegations including sexual harassment and the use of a racial slur.[137][1] On December 17, Richardson announced that he would put the Panthers up for sale after the season, and the next day Tina Becker was named chief operating officer and took over day-to-day management of the organization.[2][138]
Carolina finished the regular season 11–5, placed second in the NFC South, and returned to the playoffs as a wild-card team.[134] In the wild-card round, the Panthers lost 31–26 to the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.[139]
Tepper ownership and end of the Rivera era: 2018–2019
The franchise changed ownership during the year. On May 16, the Panthers announced a definitive agreement to sell the team to David Tepper, a hedge-fund manager and minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers.[140] NFL owners approved the sale on May 22.[141] On June 28, the NFL announced that an independent investigation had substantiated the workplace misconduct claims against Richardson, found no evidence of similar conduct by other team employees, and determined that the Panthers and their ownership had failed to report the claims or related settlement agreements to the league. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell fined Richardson $2.75 million.[142] The sale closed on July 9, making Tepper the second owner in franchise history.[143]
Carolina began 2018 at 6–2 before losing seven consecutive games as Newton dealt with an injury to his throwing shoulder. The Panthers finished 7–9 and missed the playoffs.[144][145]
Two longtime Panthers departed during the offseason. Defensive end Julius Peppers announced his retirement after 17 NFL seasons, including 10 with Carolina, while linebacker Thomas Davis did not return after 14 seasons with the team.[146][67]
Quarterback Cam Newton aggravated a left foot injury during the Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was placed on injured reserve on November 5, ending his season after two starts.[147][148] Kyle Allen became the primary starter. On October 13, Carolina defeated Tampa Bay 37–26 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, the Panthers' first regular-season game played outside the United States.[149][150]
After starting 5–3, the Panthers lost their final eight games and finished 5–11, placing fourth in the NFC South.[149] On December 3, with the team at 5–7, the Panthers parted ways with head coach Ron Rivera after eight-plus seasons. Secondary coach Perry Fewell was named interim head coach for the final four games.[151] Rivera finished his Panthers tenure with a 76–63–1 regular-season record, four playoff appearances, three NFC South titles, and one Super Bowl appearance.[151]
McCaffrey finished the season with 1,387 rushing yards and 1,005 receiving yards, becoming the third player in NFL history, after Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk, to record 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.[152] McCaffrey was named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press at both running back and flex positions.[153] On January 14, 2020, linebacker Luke Kuechly announced his retirement after eight seasons with Carolina.[154]
Matt Rhule era: 2020–2022
After parting ways with Ron Rivera during the 2019 season, the Panthers hired former Baylor and Temple head coach Matt Rhule as the fifth full-time head coach in franchise history on January 7, 2020.[155]
Roster overhaul and continued losing seasons: 2020–2021
Before Rhule's first season, Carolina released longtime quarterback Cam Newton and signed Teddy Bridgewater. The Panthers also became the first team in the common draft era to use every draft selection on defense.[156][157][158][159]
Carolina finished 5–11, and general manager Marty Hurney was fired in December.[159][160]
The Panthers hired Scott Fitterer as general manager on January 14, 2021.[161] Carolina replaced Bridgewater with Sam Darnold and later re-signed Newton after Darnold was injured.[162][163][164] The Panthers used three starting quarterbacks, lost their final seven games, and finished 5–12.[165]
Rock Hill project and coaching transition: 2022
In 2019, owner David Tepper and the Panthers announced plans for an $800 million headquarters and practice complex in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Construction stopped in 2022 amid a dispute over bonds for public infrastructure; after the project was abandoned, a federal judge approved a bankruptcy settlement of about $100 million in December.[166][167]
In July, the Panthers acquired quarterback Baker Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns.[168] Mayfield, P. J. Walker, and Sam Darnold all started games during the season.[169]
In August 2022, former Panthers linebacker and linebackers coach Sam Mills was posthumously enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of its Class of 2022.[170]
After Carolina opened the season 1–4, the Panthers parted ways with Matt Rhule on October 10. Rhule finished his Panthers tenure with an 11–27 regular-season record, and defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach Steve Wilks was named interim head coach.[171] Later in October, the Panthers traded running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers for four draft picks.[172]
Under Wilks, Carolina went 6–6 and remained in contention for the NFC South title until Week 17. The Panthers finished 7–10, placed second in the NFC South, and missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.[169]
Frank Reich era: 2023
After the 2022 season, the Panthers began another coaching search. On January 26, 2023, the team agreed to terms with former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich to become the sixth full-time head coach in franchise history.[173] Reich was the first Panthers head coach with an offensive background; he had also been the franchise's first starting quarterback during the 1995 season.[173]
Before the 2023 NFL draft, the Panthers acquired the first overall pick from the Chicago Bears in exchange for wide receiver D. J. Moore and four draft picks, including Carolina's 2024 first-round selection.[174] Carolina used the pick to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young first overall.[175]
After a 1–10 start, the Panthers dismissed Reich and named Chris Tabor interim head coach. Carolina finished an NFL-worst 2–15, and the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft went to Chicago as a result of the trade used to acquire Young.[176][177][178]
Defensive tackle Derrick Brown recorded 103 tackles, the most by a defensive lineman since Stats Pass began tracking the statistic in 1994.[179]
Dave Canales era: 2024–present
On January 22, 2024, the Panthers named former Carolina linebacker and assistant general manager Dan Morgan president of football operations and general manager.[180] Three days later, Carolina hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales as the seventh head coach in franchise history.[181] Canales had served as Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator in 2023 after spending 13 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks in several offensive coaching roles.[181]
Rebuild and return to the playoffs: 2024–2025
Carolina reshaped its roster before Canales's first season by trading pass rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants.[182]
In June 2024, the Charlotte City Council voted 7–3 to approve an $800 million renovation agreement for Bank of America Stadium.[183][184] The agreement called for up to $650 million in city funding and $150 million in up-front funding from Tepper Sports & Entertainment and included a 20-year non-relocation agreement for the Panthers and Charlotte FC, with an early-exit provision after 15 years if the company repaid the remaining city debt.[184] Planned upgrades included video and audio systems, concourses, seating, accessibility, and public gathering areas.[185]
In August 2024, former Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, becoming the first player drafted by Carolina to receive the honor.[186][187]
After an 0–2 start, Canales benched Bryce Young for Andy Dalton. Young returned after Dalton was injured and remained the starter for the rest of the season.[188][189][190]
Carolina finished 5–12 and allowed an NFL single-season record of 534 points over the 17-game schedule, one more than the 1981 Baltimore Colts allowed in 16 games.[191][190]
The Panthers finished 8–9 and won the NFC South after a three-way tiebreaker with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons, aided by Carolina's season sweep of Atlanta.[192][193] It was Carolina's first division title since the 2015 season and its first playoff berth since 2017.[193] In the wild-card round of the 2025–26 NFL playoffs, Carolina hosted the Los Angeles Rams and lost 34–31.[194]
Rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was named Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.[195]
In February 2026, former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026.[196]