Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers | |||||
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Established October 26, 1993 Play in and headquartered at Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, North Carolina | |||||
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League/conference affiliations | |||||
National Football League (1995–present) | |||||
Current uniform | |||||
Team colors | Panther Blue, Black, Silver, White[1][2] | ||||
Mascot | Sir Purr | ||||
Personnel | |||||
Owner(s) | Jerry Richardson (48%) 14 others (52%)[3] | ||||
President | Danny Morrison | ||||
General manager | Dave Gettleman | ||||
Head coach | Ron Rivera | ||||
Team history | |||||
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Championships | |||||
League championships (0) | |||||
Conference championships (2) | |||||
Division championships (6) | |||||
Playoff appearances (7) | |||||
Home fields | |||||
In Clemson, South Carolina
In Charlotte, North Carolina
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The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers play in the National Football League (NFL), as a member team of the National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The club is worth approximately US$1.56 billion, according to Forbes,[4] and is controlled by founder Jerry Richardson and his family, who have a 48 percent stake; the remainder of the team is held by a group of 14 limited partners. The head coach is Ron Rivera. The team president is Danny Morrison.
The Panthers were announced as the league's 29th franchise in 1993, and began play in 1995. The Panthers played well in their first two years, finishing 7–9 in 1995 (an all-time best for an NFL expansion team's first season). In their second year of play, the Panthers finished with a record of 12-4, winning the NFC West before ultimately losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game. However, they did not have another winning season until 2003, when the team won the NFC Championship Game and reached Super Bowl XXXVIII, losing 32–29 to the New England Patriots. After recording playoff appearances in 2005 and 2008, the team failed to record another playoff appearance until 2013, when they finished with a 12–4 record and won the NFC South. The team will compete in Super Bowl 50 against the Denver Broncos on February 7th, 2016, following a 15-1 regular season. The Panthers have made the playoffs seven times, reaching the NFC Championship Game in four of them. They have won six division titles, one in the NFC West and five in the NFC South.
The Carolina Panthers are legally registered as Panther Football, LLC.[5] The team is headquartered in Bank of America Stadium, located in uptown Charlotte; the stadium also serves as the team's home field. The Panthers are one of the few teams in the NFL to own the stadium they play in, which is legally registered as Panthers Stadium, LLC.[6] The Panthers are supported throughout the Carolinas; although the team has played their home games in Charlotte since the completion of their stadium in 1996, they played home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, during their first season, and they host their annual training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. At home games, the atmosphere has been described as comparable to that of other NFL teams. The Panthers' uniforms consist of black, white, and blue jerseys paired with white and silver pants, a pattern which has only seen minor alterations since the team's inception.
History
On December 15, 1987, entrepreneur Jerry Richardson announced his bid for an NFL expansion franchise in the Carolinas.[7] A native of North Carolina, Richardson was a former wide receiver on the Baltimore Colts who had used his 1959 league championship bonus to co-found the Hardee's chain of restaurants, later becoming president and CEO of TW Services. Richardson drew his inspiration to pursue an NFL franchise from George Shinn, who had made a successful bid for an expansion National Basketball Association (NBA) team in Charlotte, the Charlotte Hornets. Richardson founded Richardson Sports, a partnership consisting of himself and his family; a number of businessmen from North and South Carolina were also recruited to be limited partners in the group.[8] Richardson looked at four potential locations for a stadium, ultimately choosing uptown Charlotte. To highlight the demand for professional football in the Carolinas, Richardson Sports held a preseason game in the region in 1989, 1990, and 1991. The first two games were held in Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, respectively, while the third and final game was held at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. The matchups were between existing NFL teams. In 1991, the group formally filed an application for the open expansion spot, and on October 26, 1993, the 28 NFL owners unanimously named the Carolina Panthers as the 29th member of the NFL.[7]
The Panthers first competed in the 1995 NFL season; they were one of two expansion teams to begin playing that year, the other being the Jacksonville Jaguars.[9] The Panthers were put in the NFC West to increase the size of that division to five teams; there were already two other southeastern teams in the division, the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints.[10] Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dom Capers was named the first head coach. The team finished its inaugural season with a 7–9 record, the best performance ever from a first-year expansion team.[9] They performed even better in their second season, finishing with a 12–4 regular season record and winning the NFC West division, as well as securing a first-round bye.[11] The Panthers beat the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round[12] before losing the NFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Green Bay Packers.[13] The team managed only a 7–9 finish in 1997 and slipped to 4–12 in 1998, leading to Capers' dismissal as head coach.[11]
The Panthers hired former San Francisco 49ers head coach George Seifert to replace Capers, and he led the team to an 8–8 record in 1999. However, the team finished 7–9 in 2000 and fell to 1–15 in 2001, winning their first game but losing their last 15. This performance tied the NFL record for most losses in a single season and it broke the record held by the winless 1976 Buccaneers for most consecutive losses in a single season (both records have since been broken by the 2008 Lions), leading the Panthers to fire Seifert.[14]
After the NFL's expansion to 32 teams in 2002, the Panthers were relocated from the NFC West to the newly created NFC South division;[15] The Panthers' rivalries with the Falcons and Saints were maintained, and they would be joined by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New York Giants defensive coordinator John Fox was hired to replace Seifert[16] and led the team to a 7–9 finish in 2002. Although the team's defense gave up very few yards, ranking the second-best in the NFL in terms of yards conceded, they were hindered by an offense that gained very few yards, ranking as the second-worst in the league in terms of yards gained.[17] The Panthers improved to 11–5 in the 2003 regular season, winning the NFC South[18] and making it to Super Bowl XXXVIII before losing to the New England Patriots 32–29 in what was immediately hailed by sportswriter Peter King as the "Greatest Super Bowl of all time". King felt the game "was a wonderful championship battle, full of everything that makes football dramatic, draining, enervating, maddening, fantastic, exciting" and praised, among other things, the unpredictability, coaching, and conclusion.[19] The game is still viewed as one of the best Super Bowls of all time,[20][21][22][23] and in the opinion of Charlotte-based NPR reporter Scott Jagow, the Panthers' Super Bowl appearance represented the arrival of Charlotte onto the national scene.[24]
Following a rocky 1–7 start in 2004, the Panthers rebounded to win six of their last seven games despite losing 14 players for the season due to injury. They lost their last game to New Orleans, finishing the 2004 season at 7–9. Had they won the game, the Panthers would have made the playoffs.[25] The team improved to 11–5 in 2005, finishing second in the division behind Tampa Bay and clinching a playoff berth as a wild-card.[26] In the first round of the playoffs, the Panthers went on the road to face the New York Giants, beating them 23–0 for the NFL's first playoff shutout against a home team since 1980.[27] The following week, they beat Chicago 29–21 on the road, but lost key players Julius Peppers, a defensive end, and DeShaun Foster, a running back, who were both injured during the game.[28] The Panthers were then defeated 34–14 by the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, ending their season.[29] Although the Panthers went into the 2006 season as favorites to win the NFC South, they finished with a disappointing 8–8 record.[30] The team finished the 2007 season with a 7–9 record after losing quarterback Jake Delhomme early in the season due to an elbow injury.[31] In 2008, the Panthers rebounded with a 12–4 regular season record, winning the NFC South and securing a first-round bye. However, they were eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs, losing 33–13 to the Arizona Cardinals after Delhomme turned the ball over six times.[32] Delhomme's struggles carried over into the 2009 season, where he threw 18 interceptions in the first 11 games before breaking a finger in his throwing hand.[33] The Panthers were at a 4–7 record before Delhomme's season-ending injury, and his backup, Matt Moore, led the team to a 4–1 finish to the season for an 8–8 overall record.[34]
![Sitting at a table, a man wearing a white Panthers shirt and glasses is signing an autograph.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Ron_Rivera_%28cropped%29.jpg/100px-Ron_Rivera_%28cropped%29.jpg)
In 2010, after releasing Delhomme in the offseason, the Panthers finished with a league-worst (2–14); their offense was the worst in the league. John Fox's contract expired after the season ended, and the team did not retain him or his staff.[35] They hired Ron Rivera to replace Fox as head coach[36] and drafted Auburn's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton with the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.[37] The Panthers opened the 2011 season 2–6, but finished with a 6–10 record,[36] and Newton was awarded the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award after setting the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns from a quarterback (14) in a single season and becoming the first rookie NFL quarterback to throw for over 4,000 yards in a single season. He also was the first rookie quarterback to rush for over 500 yards in a single season.[38] In 2012, the Panthers again opened the season poorly, losing five out of their first six games, leading longtime general manager Marty Hurney to be fired in response. The team slid to a 2–8 record before winning five of their last six games, resulting in a 7–9 record. This strong finish helped save Rivera's job.[36] The Panthers would have a winning season the following year, finishing with a 12–4 record and winning their third NFC South title and another playoff bye,[39] however they would be beaten by the 49ers in the Divisional Round. In 2014, the Panthers opened the season with two wins, but after 12 games sat at only 3–8–1 due in part to a seven-game winless streak. However, a four-game winning streak to end the season secured the team their second consecutive NFC South championship and playoff berth, despite a losing record of 7–8–1.[40] The Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27–16 in the wild card round to advance to the divisional playoffs,[41] where they lost to eventual NFC champion Seattle 31-17. The 2015 season saw the Panthers start the season 14–0 and finish the season 15–1, which tied for the best regular season record in NFC history. The Panthers also secured their third consecutive NFC South championship, as well as their first overall top seeded playoff berth.[42] In the 2015–16 playoffs, the Panthers defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional playoffs 31–24, after shutting them out in the first half 31-0 and the Arizona Cardinals 49–15 in the NFC Championship Game to advance to the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history, and the first time since the 2003 season. The Panthers will play the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50, scheduled for February 7, 2016 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Logo and uniforms
![A stylized version of a Panther head, mainly colored black but with blue featured along the sides of the logo.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1c/Carolina_Panthers_logo.svg/220px-Carolina_Panthers_logo.svg.png)
In choosing the team name, the Richardsons did not run focus groups with potential fans. Their intention had always been the 'Panthers'; Jerry Richardson began driving a car with the license plate 'PNTHRS' near the end of 1989. By the time they had been announced as the 29th NFL team in October 1993, the Panthers' logo and helmet design had already been finalized, but the uniform design was still under creation. After discussion, the Panthers organization decided on jerseys colored white, black, and blue, and pants colored white and silver. The exact tone of blue, which they decided would be "process blue" (a shade lighter than Duke's and darker than North Carolina's), was the most difficult color to choose. The team's uniform has remained largely the same since its creation, with only minor alterations such as changing the sock color of the team's black uniforms from blue to black and changing the team's shoes from white to black.[43] Richardson, a self-described traditionalist, has said that no major uniform changes will be made in his lifetime;[44] the Panthers did, however, change their logo and logotype in 2012, the first such change in team history. According to the team, the changes were designed to give their logo an "aggressive, contemporary look" as well to give it a more three-dimensional feel.[45]
The Panthers have three main jersey colors: black, white, and blue.[46] Their blue jerseys, designated their alternate uniforms, are the newest and were introduced in 2002.[47] NFL regulations allow the team to use the blue jersey up to two times in any given season.[46] In all other games, the team must wear either their white or black jerseys; in NFL games, the home team decides whether to wear a dark or white jersey, while the away team wears the opposite.[48] The Panthers typically pair their white jerseys with white pants, while the black and blue jerseys are paired with silver pants; there have only been a few exceptions to these combinations. The first such instance was in 1998, when the team paired their white jerseys with silver pants in a game against the Indianapolis Colts. The second instance was in 2012 during a game against the Denver Broncos, when they paired their black jerseys with new black pants;[48] this created an all-black uniform, with the exception of blue socks and silver helmets. The decision to wear blue socks was made by team captain Steve Smith, who felt the blue socks gave the uniforms a more distinct appearance compared with other teams that have all-black uniforms.[49] The all-black uniforms won the "Greatest Uniform in NFL History" contest, a fan-voted contest run by NFL.com in July 2013. In July 2013, the team's equipment manager, Jackie Miles, said the Panthers intended to use the all-black uniform more in the future.[50] The Panthers wore the all-black uniform three times the following season, once each in the preseason and regular season, and the third time during the home divisional round playoff game vs the 49ers.[51]Since then, the all-black uniform has been worn for preseason games. The third instance was in 2015 during their Thanksgiving Day game against the Cowboys, when they debuted an all-blue uniform, part of Nike's "Color Rush" series.[52]
The team's uniform did not change significantly after Nike became the NFL's jersey supplier in 2012, but the collar was altered to honor former Panthers player and coach Sam Mills by featuring the phrase "Keep Pounding". Nike had conceived the idea, and the team supported the concept as a way to expose newer fans to the legacy of Mills, who died of cancer in 2005. Mills had introduced the phrase, which has since become a team slogan, in a speech that he gave to the players and coaches prior to their 2003 playoff game against Dallas; in the speech, Mills compared his fight against cancer with the team's on-field battle, saying "When I found out I had cancer, there were two things I could do – quit or keep pounding. I'm a fighter. I kept pounding. You're fighters, too. Keep pounding!"[53]
Stadium and practice facilities
![Aerial shot of an open air stadium during a football game. The outside facing is defined by a series of arches, and scoreboards are visible at the top of the facility.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Bank_of_America_Stadium.jpg/350px-Bank_of_America_Stadium.jpg)
The Panthers played their first season at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, as their facility in uptown Charlotte was still under construction. Ericsson Stadium, called Bank of America Stadium since 2004, opened in the summer of 1996. Bank of America Stadium is owned entirely by the Panthers, making them one of the few teams in the NFL to own the facility they play in.[54] The stadium was specially designed by HOK Sports Facilities Group for football. It also serves as the headquarters and administrative office of the Panthers. On some days of the week, the stadium offers public tours for a fee. Private tours for groups are offered for a fee seven days a week, though there are some exceptions, and such tours must be arranged in advance.[55] Two bronze panther statues flank each of the stadium's three main entrances; they are the largest sculptures ever commissioned in the United States.[7][56] The names of the team's original PSL owners are engraved on the base of each statue. The two people in the Panthers Hall of Honor, team executive Mike McCormack and linebacker Sam Mills, are honored with life-sized bronze statues outside the stadium.[57] Mills, in addition to being the only player in the Hall of Honor, is the only player to have had his jersey number (#51) retired by the Panthers as of 2016.[58]
The Panthers have three open-air fields next to Bank of America Stadium where they currently hold their practices;[59] during the 1995 season, when the team played their home games in South Carolina, the team held their practices at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.[60] Because the practice fields, along with the stadium, are located in uptown Charlotte, the fields are directly visible from skyscrapers as well as from a four-story condominium located across the street. According to Mike Cranston, a running joke said that the Panthers' division rivals had pooled their resources to purchase a room on the building's top floor, and that a fire at the condominium was caused by the Panthers organization.[61] In order to prevent people from seeing inside the field while the team is practicing, the team has added "strategically planted trees and a tarp over the ... fence surrounding the fields". Additionally, they employ a security team to watch for and chase away any people who stop alongside the fence surrounding the field.[61] In the event of bad weather, the team moves their practices to an indoor sports facility about 10 miles from the stadium. The team does not own this facility.[62] The Panthers have hosted their annual training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, since 1995.[63]
Culture
Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com observed that while there is "a bit of a wine-and-cheese atmosphere at Panthers games ... there is a strong core of diehard fans who bring energy to Bank of America Stadium. Charlotte lives and dies with the Panthers because there aren't a lot of other options in the sports world".[64] The Panthers are also supported in South Carolina; Nikki Haley, the state's Governor, declared July 30, 2012, "Carolina Panthers Day" in her state, saying that "when it comes to professional teams, the Carolina Panthers are the team that South Carolina calls their own".[60] Sports Illustrated graded the Panthers as having the 10th highest "NFL Fan Value Experience", attributing much of the fan atmosphere to the team's newness when compared to the established basketball fanbase. They also observed that the stadium has scattered parking lots, each of which has a different tailgating style. Some have fried chicken, pork, or Carolina-style barbecue, while others have live bands and televisions. Pickup football games in the parking lots are common, but fans tend to "behave themselves", in part due to blue laws that prevent the sale of alcohol before noon on Sundays.[65]
The Carolina Panthers have sold out all home games since December 2002,[66] and their home attendance has ranked in the top ten in the NFL since 2006.[67] The Panthers recorded the sixth-highest home attendance numbers in the NFL during the 2012 season, averaging 73,293 fans per home game.[67]
Mascot, cheerleaders, and drumline
![An anthropomorphic black cat, wearing a loose football jersey, is standing in front of several tents and is handing an object to another person.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Sir_Purr.jpg/220px-Sir_Purr.jpg)
Sir Purr, an anthropomorphic black cat who wears a jersey numbered '00', has been the Panthers' mascot since their first season. During games, Sir Purr provides sideline entertainment through skits and "silly antics".[68] The mascot participates in a number of community events year-round, including a monthly visit to the patients at Levine Children's Hospital. Sir Purr also hosts the annual Mascot Bowl, an event which pits pro and college mascots against each other during halftime at a selected Panthers home game.[69]
The team's cheerleaders are the Carolina Topcats, a group of 24 women who lead cheers and entertain fans at home games. The TopCats participate in both corporate and charity events.[70] The team's drumline is PurrCussion, an ensemble of snare, tenor, and bass drummers as well as cymbal players. PurrCussion performs for fans outside the stadium and introduces players prior to home games; it consists of drummers from across the Carolinas.[71]
Keep Pounding Drum
Starting with the 2012 season, the Panthers introduced the Keep Pounding Drum. Prior to each home game, an honorary drummer hits the six-foot tall drum four times to signify the four quarters of an American football game. According to the team, the drummers "come from a variety of backgrounds and occupations, but all have overcome a great trial or adversity that has not only made them strong but also pushes them to make others around them stronger". Drummers have included current and former Panthers players, military veterans, Make-A-Wish children, and athletes from other sports including Charlotte native Stephen Curry.[72]
Songs
During the inaugural season of the Panthers, the team had an official fight song, which the team played before each home game.[73] The song, "Stand and Cheer", remains the team's official fight song,[74] but the team does not typically play it before home games.[73] In recent years, the team has played Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" and Chairmen of the Board's "I'd Rather Be In Carolina" immediately after home victories.[75] Josh Norman Raps Carolina Panthers Carolina Anthem by Mark B single on ESPN on 2/2/2016 a favorite Chant Song by the Players and Fans.
Charity and community work
The Carolina Panthers support a variety of non-profits in North and South Carolina through the Carolina Panthers Charities. Four annual scholarships are awarded to student athletes through the Carolina Panthers Graduate Scholarship and the Carolina Panthers Players Sam Mills Memorial Scholarship programs.[76] Carolina Panthers Charities also offers grants to non-profits that support education, athletics, and human services in the community. The Panthers and Fisher Athletic has provided six equipment grants to high school football teams in the Carolinas each year since 2010.[76][77] Carolina Panthers Charities raises funds at three annual benefits: the Countdown to Kickoff Luncheon, the team's first public event each season; Football 101, an educational workshop for fans; and the Weekend Warrior Flag Football Tournament, a two-day non-contact flag football tournament. Another annual benefit is Taste of the Panthers, a gourmet food tasting which raises funds for Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.[78]
In 2003 the Panthers and Carolinas HealthCare Foundation established the Keep Pounding Fund, a fundraising initiative to support cancer research and patient support programs. The Panthers community has raised more than $1.4 million for the fund through direct donations, charity auctions, blood drives, and an annual 5k stadium run. The Panthers and Levine Children's Hospital coordinate monthly hospital visits and VIP game-day experiences for terminally ill or hospitalized children.[79]
In addition to these team-specific efforts, the Panthers participate in a number of regular initiatives promoted by the NFL and USA Football, the league's youth football development partner. These include USA Football Month, held throughout August to encourage and promote youth football; A Crucial Catch, the league's Breast Cancer Awareness Month program; Salute to Service, held throughout November to support military families and personnel; and PLAY 60, which encourages young NFL fans to be active for at least 60 minutes each day.[80]
Radio and television
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Carolina_Panthers_radio_affiliates.png/220px-Carolina_Panthers_radio_affiliates.png)
Radio coverage is provided by flagship station WBT (1110 AM) and through the Carolina Panthers Radio Network, with affiliates throughout the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia. The Panthers' radio broadcasting team is led by Mick Mixon, Eugene Robinson, and Jim Szoke. The radio network broadcasts pre-game coverage, games with commentary, and post-game wrap-ups. It also live-broadcasts Panther Talk, a weekly event at Bank of America Stadium which offers fans a chance to meet a player and ask questions of the staff.[81]
National broadcasting and cable television networks cover regular season games, as well as some preseason games. Locally, Fox owned and operated station WJZY airs most regular-season games, while any home games against an AFC team air on CBS affiliate WBTV. Any appearances on Monday Night Football are simulcast on ABC affiliate WSOC-TV, while any late-season appearances on Thursday Night Football are simulcast on WBTV.
All preseason games and team specials are televised by the Carolina Panthers Television Network on flagship station WCCB in Charlotte and fourteen affiliate stations throughout the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee. The television broadcasting team consists of play-by-play commentator Mike Morgan, color analyst and former Panthers player Mike Rucker, and sideline reporter Pete Yanity. The network also hosts The Panthers Huddle, a weekly show focusing on the Panthers' upcoming opponent. Panthers Gameday, the Panthers' postgame show, is hosted by sports anchor Russ Owens and former Panthers lineman Kevin Donnalley on WCNC-TV.[82]
The Panthers also offer game broadcasts in Spanish on an eight-station network fronted by WGSP-FM in Pageland, South Carolina,[83] as well as additional radio affiliates in Mexico. Jaime Moreno provides the play-by-play while his nephew, Luis Moreno, Jr., is the color commentator. They have become popular even among English-speaking Panther fans for their high-energy, colorful announcing style.[84]
Rivalries
The Panthers have developed heated rivalries with the three fellow members of the NFC South (the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New Orleans Saints).[85][86] The team's fiercest rivals are the Falcons[87] and Buccaneers.[85]
The Falcons are a natural geographic rival for the Panthers, as Atlanta is only 230 miles (370 kilometers) south on I-85.[85] The two teams have played each other twice a year since the Panthers' inception, and games between the two teams feature large contingents of Panthers fans at Atlanta's Georgia Dome and Falcons fans at Bank of America Stadium. Indeed, the Panthers' first game was a close loss to the Falcons. During the 2015 season, the Panthers started 14–0, but lost their 15th game to the Falcons, ending the perfect season.
The Panthers' rivalry with Tampa Bay is perhaps one of the better rivalries in the NFC South.[88] The rivalry originated in 2002 with the formation of the NFC South, but became particularly heated before the 2003 season with verbal bouts between players on the two teams. It escalated further when the Panthers went to Tampa Bay and beat them in what ESPN.com writer Pat Yasinskas described as "one of the most physical contests in recent memory". The rivalry has resulted in a number of severe injuries for players on both teams, some of which have been caused by foul play.[88][89] One of these plays, an illegal hit on Tampa Bay punt returner Clifton Smith, sparked a brief melee between the two teams.[89]
During their time in the NFC West, the Panthers began developing a rivalry with the San Francisco 49ers. However, this rivalry faded after the NFL moved the Panthers out of the NFC West.[90]
The Panthers also have a rivalry with the Seattle Seahawks after playing them six times since 2012, including twice in the playoffs. The Panthers are 2–4 against Seattle in this stretch and 1–1 in the NFL playoffs.[91]
Players
Current roster
Pro Bowlers
The Pro Bowl is the annual all-star game of the NFL. Pro Bowl rosters are determined by a combination of fan, player, and coach voting.[92] In 2015, the Panthers had a franchise record 10 players selected to the Pro Bowl.[93]
Hall of Honor
The Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor was established in 1997 to honor individuals for their contributions to the Carolina Panthers organization. Each inductee is honored with a life-sized bronze statue outside of Bank of America Stadium's North Entrance, while the names of each original PSL owner are written on the black granite base at each of the six panther statues.[57] A rule added in the mid-2000s by the Panthers organization requires all potential inductees to be retired for at least five years before they are eligible for induction.[95] The members of the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor are Mike McCormack, who was inducted on September 21, 1997, for his contributions to the team as an executive and general manager; Sam Mills, who was inducted on September 27, 1998, for his contributions to the team as a linebacker; and the team's PSL owners, who were inducted on September 13, 2004.[57]
Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees
Nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which "honor[s] individuals who have made outstanding contributions to professional football",[96] are determined by a 46-member selection committee. At least 80 percent of voters must approve the nominee for him to be inducted.[97] Reggie White, who played defensive end for the Panthers during the 2000 season and Bill Polian, who was the Panthers GM from 1995–1997, are currently the only Panthers in the Hall of Fame.[98]
Ownership and administration
Jerry Richardson is the owner and founder of the Carolina Panthers.[3] Richardson and his family own about 48% of the team,[A] with the remaining 52% owned by a group of 14 limited partners.[43] Richardson paid $206 million for the rights to start the team in 1993; according to Forbes, the Panthers are worth approximately $1 billion as of 2012. They ranked the Carolina Panthers as the sixteenth-most valuable NFL team[4] and the twenty-third most valuable sports team in the world.[100]
Mike McCormack, a Hall of Fame lineman for the Cleveland Browns and former coach and executive for the Seattle Seahawks, was the Panthers' first team president, presiding in that role from 1994 until his retirement in 1997; McCormack was inducted as the first person in the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor later that year.[7] Jerry Richardson's son, Mark, was appointed as the team's second president in 1997 and served in that role until he stepped down in 2009. His brother Jon, who had been president of Bank of America Stadium, stepped down at the same time. The resignations of Mark and Jon Richardson were unexpected, as it was thought that the two would eventually take over the team from their father.[101] Mark Richardson was replaced by Danny Morrison, who had previously served as the athletic director of Texas Christian University.[102]
Coaches
The Carolina Panthers have had four head coaches. Dom Capers was the head coach from 1995 to 1998 and led the team to one playoff appearance. Counting playoff games, he finished with a record of 31–35 (.470). George Seifert coached the team from 1999 to 2001, recording 16 wins and 32 losses (.333); he is the only head coach in team history not to have led the team to a playoff appearance. John Fox, the team's longest-tenured head coach, led the team from 2002 to 2010 and coached the team to three playoff appearances. Including playoff games, Fox ended his tenure with a 78–74 (.513) record, making him the only Panthers coach to finish his tenure with the team with a winning record. Ron Rivera, the team's current head coach, has held the position since 2011 and has led the team to three playoff appearances. Counting playoff games, he has a career record of 50–34–1 (.594).[103]
Note: Statistics are correct through week 20 of the 2015 NFL season.
Name | Term | Totals | Regular season | Playoffs | Ref | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | L | T | PCT | G | W | L | T | PCT | G | W | L | PCT | |||
Dom Capers | 1995–1998 | 66 | 31 | 35 | 0 | .470 | 64 | 30 | 34 | 0 | .469 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | [104] |
George Seifert | 1999–2001 | 48 | 16 | 32 | 0 | .333 | 48 | 16 | 32 | 0 | .333 | 0 | — | — | – | [105] |
John Fox | 2002–2010 | 152 | 78 | 74 | 0 | .513 | 144 | 73 | 71 | 0 | .507 | 8 | 5 | 3 | .625 | [106] |
Ron Rivera | 2011–present | 85 | 50 | 34 | 1 | .594 | 80 | 47 | 32 | 1 | .594 | 5 | 3 | 2 | .600 | [107] |
Current staff
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Team records
![A man, in football uniform but not wearing a helmet, is standing at midfield, preparing to shake hands with another person.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/John_Kasay.jpg/100px-John_Kasay.jpg)
Since they began playing football in 1995, the Panthers have been to four NFC Championship Games; they lost two (1996 and 2005) and won two (2003 and 2015).[109][110] The Panthers have won six division championships: the NFC West championship in 1996 and the NFC South championship in 2003, 2008, 2013, 2014, and 2015. They are the first and only team to win the NFC South back to back and have won the NFC South more times than any other team in the division. They have finished as runners-up in their division six times, finishing second-place in the NFC West in 1997 and 1999 and finishing second-place in the NFC South in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2012.[111][112] They have qualified for the playoffs 7 times, most recently in 2015.[113]
Kicker John Kasay is the team's career points leader. Kasay scored 1,482 points during his 16 seasons (1995 to 2010) with the Panthers. Quarterback Jake Delhomme, who played with the team from 2003 to 2009, is the career passing leader, having thrown for 19,258 yards over his seven seasons with the team.[114] Running back DeAngelo Williams is the career rushing leader for the Carolina Panthers. Williams, during his tenure with the team (2006 to 2014), rushed for 6,846 yards with the Panthers.[114] Wide receiver Steve Smith, the team's leading receiver, recorded 12,197 receiving yards during his 13-year (2001 to 2013) tenure with the team.[114]
Carolina Panthers record by season[115] | |||||
Season | Record | Division rank | Made playoffs? | Result | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | 7–9 | 4th | No | ||
1996 | 12–4 | 1st | Yes | Lost NFC Championship | |
1997 | 7–9 | 2nd | No | ||
1998 | 4–12 | 4th | No | ||
1999 | 8–8 | 2nd | No | ||
2000 | 7–9 | 3rd | No | ||
2001 | 1–15 | 5th | No | ||
2002 | 7–9 | 4th | No | ||
2003 | 11–5 | 1st | Yes | Lost Super Bowl | |
2004 | 7–9 | 3rd | No | ||
2005 | 11–5 | 2nd | Yes | Lost NFC Championship | |
2006 | 8–8 | 2nd | No | ||
2007 | 7–9 | 2nd | No | ||
2008 | 12–4 | 1st | Yes | Lost Divisional Round | |
2009 | 8–8 | 3rd | No | ||
2010 | 2–14 | 4th | No | ||
2011 | 6–10 | 3rd | No | ||
2012 | 7–9 | 2nd | No | ||
2013 | 12–4 | 1st | Yes | Lost Divisional Round | |
2014 | 7–8–1 | 1st | Yes | Lost Divisional Round | |
2015 | 15-1 | 1st | Yes | Advanced to Super Bowl |
Carolina Panthers all-time record[115] | ||||
Regular Season | Playoffs | Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Record | 167–169–1 | 9–6 | 176–175–1 | |
Percentage | .497 | .600 | .501 |
Notes
- Notes
- Footnotes
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- ^ a b Strickland, Bryan (January 31, 2013). "When will Panthers be back in black?". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ Henson, Max. "Notes: Committed to the Carolinas". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
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- ^ http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-Unveil-Color-Rush-Uniform/2c64e641-cdc5-4c7c-8269-4a51107c902f
- ^ Fowler, Scott (April 3, 2012). "Carolina Panthers' uniforms to honor Sam Mills legacy". The State. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
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- ^ "Tours". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
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- ^ a b c "Hall of Honor". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
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- ^ "Stadium Facts". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
- ^ a b Strickland, Brian (July 30, 2012). "Governor proclaims "Carolina Panthers Day" in S.C." Carolina Panthers. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
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- ^ Banks, Don (August 2, 2012). "Postcard from camp: Panthers". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
- ^ Yasinskas, Pat (August 29, 2008). "Playoff drought leaves Dolphins' fans parched for a winner". ESPN.com. p. 3. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ "NFL Fan Value Experience". Sports Illustrated. November 7, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (January 16, 2013). "Report: Richardson plans to have Panthers sold after he dies". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ a b "NFL Attendance −2012". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "Mascot". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Sir Purr – Outreach". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ "Cheerleaders". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Drumline". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Keep Pounding Drummer". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
- ^ a b Squires, Chase (February 1, 2004). "Squad's '95 fans remember the team spirit". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "Stand and Cheer". Carolina Panthers. March 9, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ Sorenson, Tom (October 25, 2010). "Panthers like sweet sound of victory". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
- ^ a b "Carolina Panthers Charities". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "Carolina Panthers – Fisher Athletic High School Equipment Grant" (PDF). Carolina Panthers. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
- ^ "Charity Events". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "Keep Pounding". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "Community". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "Radio". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ "Television". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ Panthers Spanish radio and fan page
- ^ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article42088353.html
- ^ a b c Sorenson, Tom (September 28, 2008). "Sorensen: Falcons vs. Panthers is no rivalry". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
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- ^ Yasinskas, Pat (December 9, 2012). "Panthers score some points for Rivera". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ a b Yasinskas, Pat (September 11, 2008). "NFC South's most intense rivalry: Panthers vs. Bucs". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ a b Holder, Stephen F. (October 19, 2009). "Carolina Panthers cornerback Dante Wesley suspended for hit on Tampa Bay Buccaneers returner Clifton Smith". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
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- ^ Person, Joseph (January 12, 2016). "A look back at past 5 games in Panthers-Seahawks rivalry". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
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- ^ Biggs, Brad (October 26, 2009). "Change in NFL ownership rules aids family-owned teams like Bears". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ^ Badenhausen, Kurt (July 16, 2012). "Manchester United Tops The World's 50 Most Valuable Sports Teams". Forbes. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
- ^ Yasinskas, Pat (September 1, 2009). "Richardson's sons resign unexpectedly". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
- ^ Person, Joe; Jones, Jonathan; Green Jr., Ron (September 2, 2009). "Danny Morrison file". Charlotte.com. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
- ^ "Head Coaches". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ "Dom Capers Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Sports-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
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(help) - ^ "George Seifert Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Sports-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
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(help) - ^ "John Fox Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Sports-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
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(help) - ^ "Ron Rivera Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Sports-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
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(help) - ^ Yasinskas, Pat (August 31, 2012). "John Kasay back to Panthers? Doubt it". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ^ "Carolina Panthers". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
- ^ "Playoff Game Summaries" (pdf). NFL.com. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ "Past Standings (1920–2011)" (PDF). NFL.com. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
- ^ "Standings". NFL.com. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
- ^ http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/12/6/9853544/nfl-playoff-picture-week-13-panthers-patriots-wild-card-standings
- ^ a b c "All-Time Leaders". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
- ^ a b "Carolina Panthers Head-to-Head Records". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official website
- Carolina Panthers at NFL.com