History of Carolina Panthers in Timeline
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team located in Charlotte, North Carolina, competing in the NFL as part of the NFC South division. Their home field and headquarters are at Bank of America Stadium in Uptown Charlotte. While primarily based in Charlotte since 1996, the Panthers played their inaugural season home games in 1995 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, reflecting the team's support base throughout both North and South Carolina.
1959: Championship Bonus
In 1959, Jerry Richardson used his league championship bonus to co-franchise the first Hardee's restaurant in Spartanburg, SC.
1976: NFL Record
In 1976, the Carolina Panthers tied the NFL record for most losses in a single season.
1980: NFL Playoff Shutout
In 1980, the Carolina Panthers had the NFL's first playoff shutout against a home team.
December 15, 1987: Jerry Richardson Announces NFL Bid
On December 15, 1987, Jerry Richardson announced his bid for an NFL expansion franchise in the Carolinas.
1989: Preseason Games Begin
In 1989, Richardson Sports held preseason games around the Carolinas to highlight the demand for professional football.
1991: Application Filed
In 1991, Richardson Sports formally filed an application for an NFL expansion spot.
October 1993: Panthers Announced as 29th NFL Team
In October 1993, the Carolina Panthers were announced as the 29th NFL team. Their logo and helmet design had already been finalized, while the uniform design was still in development.
October 26, 1993: Panthers Named 29th NFL Member
On October 26, 1993, the Carolina Panthers were unanimously named the 29th member of the NFL by the 28 NFL owners.
1993: Jerry Richardson Pays to Start the Team
In 1993, Jerry Richardson and other investors paid $206 million for the rights to start the Carolina Panthers team.
1993: Panthers Announced as 29th Franchise
In 1993, the Carolina Panthers were announced as the league's 29th franchise.
1994: Mike McCormack Becomes First Team President
In 1994, Mike McCormack became the Carolina Panthers' first team president.
1995: Panthers Practice at Winthrop University
During the 1995 season, when the Carolina Panthers played their home games in South Carolina, the team held their practices at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
1995: Dom Capers Becomes Head Coach
In 1995, Dom Capers became the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
1995: John Kasay Joins Team
In 1995, Kicker John Kasay joined the Carolina Panthers.
1995: Inaugural Season
In 1995, the Carolina Panthers began play under founding owner Jerry Richardson and finished their first season with a 7-9 record.
1995: Carolina Panthers Begin Playing Football
In 1995, the Carolina Panthers began playing football.
1995: Kerry Collins Drafted
In the 1995 NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers selected quarterback Kerry Collins out of Penn State with their first-ever draft selection.
1996: Opening of Ericsson Stadium
Ericsson Stadium, which has been called Bank of America Stadium since 2004, opened in the summer of 1996. The stadium was specially designed for football.
1996: NFC West Championship
In 1996, the Carolina Panthers won the NFC West championship and lost the NFC Championship Game.
1996: Home Games in Charlotte
Since 1996, the Carolina Panthers have played their home games in Charlotte at the Bank of America Stadium.
1997: Mike McCormack Retirement and Hall of Honor induction; Mark Richardson Appointed President
In 1997, Mike McCormack retired as team president and was inducted into the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor. Jerry Richardson's son, Mark, was appointed as the team's second president.
1997: Establishment of the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor
In 1997, the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor was established to recognize individuals for their contributions to the organization.
1997: Finished Second in NFC West
In 1997, the Carolina Panthers finished second-place in the NFC West.
1997: 7-9 Finish
In 1997, the Carolina Panthers finished with a 7-9 record.
1998: Dom Capers ends his tenure as Head Coach
In 1998, Dom Capers ended his tenure as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
1998: 4-12 Finish and Capers' Dismissal
In 1998, the Carolina Panthers slipped to a 4-12 record, leading to Dom Capers' dismissal as head coach.
1999: George Seifert Coached
In 1999, George Seifert coached the Carolina Panthers.
1999: 8-8 Season
In 1999, George Seifert led the Carolina Panthers to an 8-8 record.
1999: Finished Second in NFC West
In 1999, the Carolina Panthers finished second-place in the NFC West.
1999: "Stand and Cheer" Pulled Due to Fan Reaction
In 1999, the Carolina Panthers' official fight song, "Stand and Cheer," was pulled due to negative fan reaction.
2000: 7-9 Season
In 2000, the Carolina Panthers finished with a 7-9 record.
2001: George Seifert ends his tenure as Head Coach
In 2001, George Seifert ended his tenure as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
2001: Steve Smith Joins Team
In 2001, Wide receiver Steve Smith joined the Carolina Panthers.
2001: 1-15 Season and Drafting of Steve Smith
In 2001, the Carolina Panthers had a 1-15 record, tying the NFL record for most losses and leading to Seifert's firing; the team drafted Steve Smith.
2002: Introduction of Blue Alternate Jerseys
In 2002, the Carolina Panthers introduced blue jerseys as their alternate uniforms. These jerseys can be used up to two times in any given season.
2002: Relocation to NFC South
In 2002, the Carolina Panthers were relocated from the NFC West to the newly created NFC South division and hired John Fox as head coach; they also drafted Julius Peppers.
2002: Rivalry with Tampa Bay Originates
In 2002, the Carolina Panthers' rivalry with Tampa Bay Buccaneers originated with the formation of the NFC South.
2002: NFC South Establishment
Since the establishment of the NFC South division in 2002, the Carolina Panthers have won five division titles.
2003: Rivalry with Tampa Bay Heats Up
Before the 2003 season, the rivalry between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers became particularly heated, escalating with a physical contest in Tampa Bay.
2003: Super Bowl Appearance
In 2003, the Carolina Panthers had their first Super Bowl appearance.
2003: NFC South Championship
In 2003, the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South championship and won NFC Championship Game.
2003: Establishment of the Keep Pounding Fund
In 2003, the Panthers and Carolinas HealthCare Foundation established the Keep Pounding Fund to support cancer research and patient support programs.
2004: Ericsson Stadium Renamed Bank of America Stadium
In 2004, Ericsson Stadium was renamed Bank of America Stadium.
2004: Sam Mills motivational speech
In 2004, Sam Mills gave a motivational speech before the team's playoff game against the Cowboys that inspired the Keep Pounding Drum.
2004: Missed Playoff Berth
In 2004, despite a strong rebound, the Carolina Panthers missed the playoffs, finishing the season at 7-9 after losing their last game to New Orleans.
2005: Playoff Berth as Wild Card
In 2005, the Carolina Panthers improved to 11-5, clinching a playoff berth as a wild card and defeating the New York Giants 23-0 in the first round, but were later defeated in the NFC Championship Game by the Seattle Seahawks, 34-14.
2005: Lost NFC Championship Game
In 2005, the Carolina Panthers lost the NFC Championship Game.
2005: NFC Championship Appearance
In 2005, the Carolina Panthers made a playoff appearance, reaching the NFC Championship for the third time.
2006: Disappointing Season
In 2006, despite being favored to win the NFC South and signing free agent Keyshawn Johnson, the Carolina Panthers finished with a disappointing 8-8 record.
2006: Finished Second in NFC South
In 2006, the Carolina Panthers finished second-place in the NFC South.
2006: "Stand and Cheer" Returns
Since 2006, the Carolina Panthers' fight song, "Stand and Cheer," has returned. Also, The team plays Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" after home victories.
2006: Home Attendance Ranks in NFL's Top Ten
Since 2006, the Carolina Panthers' home attendance has ranked in the NFL's top ten.
2007: Panthers Ranked 10th in "NFL Fan Value Experience"
In 2007, Sports Illustrated graded the Carolina Panthers as having the 10th highest "NFL Fan Value Experience".
2007: Finished Second in NFC South
In 2007, the Carolina Panthers finished second-place in the NFC South.
2007: 7-9 Record
In 2007, the Carolina Panthers finished the season with a 7-9 record after losing quarterback Jake Delhomme early in the season due to an elbow injury.
2008: Jonathan Stewart Joins Team
In 2008, Running back Jonathan Stewart joined the Carolina Panthers.
2008: NFL Record
In 2008, the Carolina Panthers broke the NFL record for most losses in a single season.
2008: Playoff Appearance
In 2008, the Carolina Panthers made another playoff appearance.
2008: NFC South Champions
In 2008, the Carolina Panthers rebounded with a 12-4 regular season record, winning the NFC South and securing a first-round bye.
2009: Delhomme's Struggles
In 2009, Jake Delhomme struggled with turnovers, throwing 18 interceptions before a season-ending injury, and the Panthers finished with an 8-8 record.
2009: Mark and Jon Richardson Resign
In 2009, Mark Richardson, then the Carolina Panthers team president, and his brother Jon, president of Bank of America Stadium, both resigned.
2009: Melee During Game Against Tampa Bay
In 2009, an illegal hit on Tampa Bay's punt returner Clifton Smith sparked a brief melee between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
2010: John Fox ends his tenure as Head Coach
In 2010, John Fox ended his tenure as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
2010: John Kasay played his last season
In 2010, Kicker John Kasay played his last season with the Carolina Panthers.
2010: League-Worst Record
In 2010, after releasing Jake Delhomme, the Carolina Panthers finished with a league-worst 2-14 record, leading to the departure of John Fox and his staff.
2010: Equipment Grants to High School Football Teams
Since 2010, Carolina Panthers Charities and Fisher Athletic have provided six equipment grants to high school football teams in the Carolinas each year.
2011: Cam Newton Joins Team
In 2011, Quarterback Cam Newton joined the Carolina Panthers.
2011: Ron Rivera Coached
In 2011, Ron Rivera coached the Carolina Panthers.
July 30, 2012: "Carolina Panthers Day" Declared in South Carolina
On July 30, 2012, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley declared "Carolina Panthers Day" in her state, recognizing the team's significance to South Carolina.
2012: "Keep Pounding" Chant Introduced
During the 2012 season, a "keep pounding" chant was introduced before the opening kickoff of each home game, similar to chants at college football games.
2012: Panthers Logo and Logotype Change
In 2012, the Carolina Panthers changed their logo and logotype for the first time in team history, giving it a more aggressive, contemporary, and three-dimensional look.
2012: Finished Second in NFC South
In 2012, the Carolina Panthers finished second-place in the NFC South.
2012: Firing of Marty Hurney
In 2012, the Carolina Panthers started poorly, leading to the firing of general manager Marty Hurney, but finished strong for a 7-9 record.
2012: "Keep Pounding" Added to Jersey Collars
In 2012, when Nike became the NFL's jersey supplier, the Carolina Panthers' jersey collars were altered to honor former player and coach Sam Mills by featuring the phrase "Keep Pounding".
2012: Introduction of the Keep Pounding Drum
Starting in the 2012 season, the Panthers introduced the Keep Pounding Drum, inspired by Sam Mills' motivational speech. Before each home game, an honorary drummer hits the drum four times.
July 2013: All-Black Uniform Wins "Greatest Uniform in NFL History"
In July 2013, the Carolina Panthers' all-black uniform won the "Greatest Uniform in NFL History" contest, a fan-voted competition run by NFL.com. Also, in July 2013, Jackie Miles, the team's equipment manager, stated the Panthers intended to use the all-black uniform more in the future.
2013: WCCB Loses Fox Affiliation
In 2013, WCCB lost the Fox affiliation to WJZY, but retained its role as the Panthers' television partner until 2019.
2013: Steve Smith played his last season
In 2013, Wide receiver Steve Smith played his last season with the Carolina Panthers.
2013: NFC South Title
In 2013, the Carolina Panthers began a streak of three consecutive NFC South titles, marking their return to the playoffs.
2014: NFC South Championship
In 2014, despite a losing record, the Carolina Panthers secured their second consecutive NFC South championship and a playoff berth, defeating the Arizona Cardinals in the wild card round.
2014: Divisional Round Loss
In 2014, the Carolina Panthers lost in the divisional round to the Seattle Seahawks.
2015: Panthers Debut All-Blue "Color Rush" Uniform
During the Carolina Panthers' 2015 Thanksgiving Day game against the Dallas Cowboys, they debuted an all-blue uniform as part of Nike's "Color Rush" series.
2015: 15-1 Season
In 2015, the Carolina Panthers finished with a 15-1 record, won the NFC South, and advanced to Super Bowl 50, where they lost to the Denver Broncos; Cam Newton was named NFL MVP.
2015: Super Bowl Appearance
In 2015, the Carolina Panthers returned to the Super Bowl but lost to the Denver Broncos.
2015: NFC South Championship
In 2015, the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South championship and won NFC Championship Game.
2016: Sam Mills Honored with Jersey Retirement
As of 2016, Sam Mills is the only player to have had his jersey number (#51) retired by the Carolina Panthers.
2016: Regression and Missed Playoffs
In 2016, the Carolina Panthers regressed to a 6-10 record, missing the playoffs.
2017: Wild Card Round Loss
In 2017, the Carolina Panthers finished with an 11-5 record but lost to the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Round.
2017: Playoff Appearance
In 2017, the Carolina Panthers made their most recent playoff appearance.
2017: Qualified for Playoffs
In 2017, the Carolina Panthers qualified for the playoffs.
2017: Danny Morrison Resigned
In early 2017, Danny Morrison resigned as team president.
2017: Panthers and Saints Postseason Meeting
In the 2017-18 postseason, the Saints were victorious against the Panthers in their lone postseason meeting in the Wild Card Round, with a score of 31-26.
May 16, 2018: David Tepper Finalizes Agreement to Purchase the Panthers
On May 16, 2018, David Tepper finalized an agreement to purchase the Carolina Panthers for nearly $2.3 billion, a record sale price.
May 22, 2018: David Tepper Approved as Owner
On May 22, 2018, league owners unanimously approved David Tepper's purchase of the Carolina Panthers from founder Jerry Richardson.
July 9, 2018: Sale of Panthers Officially Closed
On July 9, 2018, the sale of the Carolina Panthers to David Tepper officially closed.
August 2018: Tom Glick Hired as Team President
In August 2018, Tom Glick was hired as the team president of the Carolina Panthers.
2018: Jonathan Stewart played his last season
In 2018, Running back Jonathan Stewart played his last season with the Carolina Panthers.
June 5, 2019: Announcement of New Practice Facility
On June 5, 2019, the Carolina Panthers formally announced their plan to build a $1 billion team headquarters and training facility in Rock Hill, South Carolina, nicknamed "The Rock".
July 2019: Groundbreaking for New Practice Facility
In July 2019, groundbreaking took place for the Carolina Panthers' new practice facility in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
December 3, 2019: Ron Rivera Fired; Perry Fewell Named Interim Head Coach
On December 3, 2019, Ron Rivera was fired as head coach and Perry Fewell was named interim head coach.
2019: WSOC-TV Becomes Television Partner
For the 2019 season, WSOC-TV in Charlotte became the Carolina Panthers' television partner, replacing WCCB.
2019: Panthers' Disappointing Season and Coaching Change
In 2019, after a 5-3 start, the Panthers lost their last eight games, finishing 5-11. Late in the season, owner David Tepper fired head coach Ron Rivera. Cam Newton also suffered a season-ending injury and only played two games.
2019: New Uniforms Unveiled
In 2019, the Carolina Panthers unveiled new uniforms that were Nike's "Vapor Untouchable" design. The new uniforms had only minor changes.
January 7, 2020: Matt Rhule Hired as Head Coach
On January 7, 2020, the Carolina Panthers hired Matt Rhule, the head coach from Baylor, as their new head coach.
January 15, 2020: Luke Kuechly Announces Retirement
On January 15, 2020, Luke Kuechly announced his retirement from the NFL.
March 17, 2020: Panthers Sign Teddy Bridgewater
On March 17, 2020, the Carolina Panthers signed Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year, $63 million contract.
2020: Cam Newton played his last season
In 2020, Quarterback Cam Newton played his last season with the Carolina Panthers.
November 11, 2021: Cam Newton Re-Signed by Panthers
On November 11, 2021, Cam Newton signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers after Sam Darnold was placed on injured reserve.
2021: Preseason Television Broadcasting Team
As of 2021, the Carolina Panthers' preseason television broadcasting team consists of Taylor Zarzour, Steve Smith, and Kristen Balboni.
March 2022: Carolina Topcats add Transgender Member
In March 2022, the Carolina Topcats made history by becoming the first NFL cheerleading team to include a transgender member, Justine Lindsay.
April 19, 2022: Agreement for New Practice Facility Terminated
On April 19, 2022, the agreement with Rock Hill for the new practice facility was terminated, and owner David Tepper filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
October 10, 2022: Matt Rhule Fired as Head Coach
On October 10, 2022, Matt Rhule was fired as head coach after the Panthers started the season with a 1-4 record. Steve Wilks was named interim head coach.
2022: Panthers Unveil Secondary Black Helmets
In 2022, after the NFL reinstated the use of alternate helmets, the Panthers unveiled secondary black helmets with no white elements on the team logo.
January 26, 2023: Frank Reich Hired as Head Coach
On January 26, 2023, Frank Reich, former Indianapolis Colts head coach, was hired as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
November 27, 2023: Frank Reich Fired After 1-10 Start
On November 27, 2023, Frank Reich was fired after the Carolina Panthers started the season with a 1-10 record.
2023: Panthers Lead All-Time Series Against Buccaneers
As of 2023, the Carolina Panthers lead the all-time series against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25–22.
2023: Falcons Lead All-Time Series
As of the 2023 season, the Atlanta Falcons lead the all-time series against the Carolina Panthers 36–22.
2023: Team Value
In 2023, Forbes estimated the Carolina Panthers' value at $4.1 billion.
January 25, 2024: Dave Canales Hired as Head Coach
On January 25, 2024, Dave Canales, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator, was hired as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
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