History of Carolina Panthers in Timeline

The Carolina Panthers are an NFL team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, competing in the NFC South division. They play their home games at Bank of America Stadium in Uptown Charlotte, although their inaugural season's home games were held in Clemson, South Carolina. The team's fanbase extends throughout North and South Carolina.

1959: Richardson's Championship Bonus

In 1959, Jerry Richardson used his league championship bonus to co-franchise the first Hardee's restaurant in Spartanburg, SC.

1976: Mention of 1976 Buccaneers

In 2001, the Carolina Panthers broke the record held by the winless 1976 Buccaneers for most consecutive losses in a single season

1980: Mention of 1980 playoff shutout

In 2005, the Carolina 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.

December 15, 1987: Jerry Richardson Announces Expansion Bid

On December 15, 1987, entrepreneur Jerry Richardson announced his bid for an NFL expansion franchise in the Carolinas.

1989: Preseason Games Begin

In 1989, Richardson Sports held preseason games to highlight the demand for professional football in the Carolinas.

1991: Application for Expansion Spot Filed

In 1991, Richardson Sports formally filed an application for the open expansion spot in the NFL.

October 1993: Panthers Announced as 29th NFL Team

In October 1993, the Panthers were announced as the 29th NFL team, with the logo and helmet design already finalized.

October 26, 1993: Panthers Named 29th Member of NFL

On October 26, 1993, the 28 NFL owners unanimously named the Carolina Panthers as the 29th member of the NFL.

1993: Team Rights Purchased

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 Team President

In 1994, Mike McCormack became the first team president of the Carolina Panthers, serving until 1997.

1995: Practices at Winthrop University

During the 1995 season, the Carolina Panthers 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 Panthers

In 1995, John Kasay joined the Carolina Panthers and played with the team for 16 seasons.

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: First NFL Draft Selection

In the 1995 NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers selected quarterback Kerry Collins out of Penn State with their first ever draft selection.

1996: Ericsson Stadium Opens

Ericsson Stadium, the future Bank of America Stadium, opened in the summer of 1996.

1996: Move to Charlotte

In 1996, the Carolina Panthers moved their home games to Bank of America Stadium in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina.

1996: NFC West Championship & NFC Championship Game Appearance

In 1996, the Carolina Panthers won the NFC West championship and lost in the NFC Championship Game.

1997: Mike McCormack Inducted to Hall of Honor, Mark Richardson Appointed President

In 1997, Mike McCormack was inducted as the first person in the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor, and Jerry Richardson's son, Mark, was appointed as the team's second president.

1997: NFC West Runners-Up

In 1997, the Carolina Panthers finished as runners-up in the NFC West.

1997: 7-9 Season

In 1997, the Carolina Panthers finished the season with a 7-9 record.

1997: Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor Established

The Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor was established in 1997 to honor individuals for their contributions to the Carolina Panthers organization.

1998: Dom Capers' Tenure Ends

In 1998, Dom Capers' tenure as head coach of the Carolina Panthers ended.

1998: White Jerseys with Silver Pants

In 1998, the Carolina Panthers paired their white jerseys with silver pants for the first time in a game against the Indianapolis Colts.

1998: 4-12 Season 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 Becomes Head Coach

In 1999, George Seifert became the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.

1999: "Stand and Cheer" Pulled

In 1999, due to negative fan reaction, the Carolina Panthers pulled their official fight song, "Stand and Cheer".

1999: NFC West Runners-Up

In 1999, the Carolina Panthers finished as runners-up in the NFC West.

1999: 8-8 Season under Seifert

In 1999, the Carolina Panthers, under head coach George Seifert, finished with an 8-8 record.

2000: 7-9 Season

In 2000, the Carolina Panthers finished with a 7-9 record.

2001: George Seifert's Tenure Ends

In 2001, George Seifert's tenure as head coach of the Carolina Panthers ended.

2001: Steve Smith Joins Panthers

In 2001, Steve Smith joined the Carolina Panthers and played with the team for 13 seasons.

2001: 1-15 Season and Seifert's Firing

In 2001, the Carolina Panthers had a disastrous 1-15 season, leading to George Seifert's firing.

2002: John Fox Becomes Head Coach

In 2002, John Fox became the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.

2002: Relocation to NFC South

In 2002, the Carolina Panthers were relocated from the NFC West to the newly created NFC South division.

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: Establishment of NFC South

In 2002, the NFC South division was established.

2002: Introduction of Blue Jersey

In 2002, the Panthers introduced their blue jerseys as their alternate uniforms.

2003: Rivalry with Tampa Bay Intensifies

Before the 2003 season, the Carolina Panthers' rivalry with Tampa Bay became heated with verbal bouts between players and a physical game where the Panthers won.

2003: Sam Mills Speech

In 2003, Sam Mills gave the "Keep Pounding" speech to the players and coaches prior to their playoff game against Dallas.

2003: Keep Pounding Fund Established

In 2003, the Carolina Panthers and Carolinas HealthCare Foundation established the Keep Pounding Fund to support cancer research and patient support programs.

2003: Super Bowl XXXVIII Appearance

In 2003, the Carolina Panthers improved to 11-5, won the NFC South and defeated the Dallas Cowboys, the St. Louis Rams, and the Philadelphia Eagles to advance to Super Bowl XXXVIII, before losing to the New England Patriots, 32-29.

2003: NFC South Championship & NFC Championship Game Win

In 2003, the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South championship and won the NFC Championship Game.

2003: Mention of Super Bowl Appearance

In 2015, the Carolina Panthers secured their first Super Bowl appearance since the 2003 season.

2004: Stadium Renamed

In 2004, Ericsson Stadium was renamed Bank of America Stadium.

2004: Near Playoff Berth

In 2004, after a 1-7 start, the Carolina Panthers rebounded but ultimately missed the playoffs, finishing the season 7-9.

2004: Mills Speech

Sam Mills gave the "Keep Pounding" speech before the team's 2004 playoff game against the Cowboys

2005: Playoff Berth

In 2005, the Carolina Panthers improved to 11-5, finishing second in the division and clinching a playoff berth as a wild card and defeated the New York Giants 23-0 in the first round.

2005: NFC Championship Game Appearance and Division Runners-up

In 2005, the Carolina Panthers lost in the NFC Championship Game and finished as runners-up in the NFC South.

2005: Death of Sam Mills

Sam Mills, former Panthers player and coach, died of cancer in 2005.

2006: NFC South Runners-Up

In 2006, the Carolina Panthers finished as runners-up in the NFC South.

2006: Disappointing Season

In 2006, the Carolina Panthers finished with a disappointing 8-8 record despite being favored to win the NFC South and signing Keyshawn Johnson.

2006: "Stand and Cheer" Returns

In 2006, the Carolina Panthers' official fight song, "Stand and Cheer", returned after being pulled in 1999 due to negative fan reaction.

2006: Home Attendance Ranking

Since 2006, the Carolina Panthers' home attendance has ranked in the NFL's top ten.

2007: Fan Experience Ranking

In 2007, Sports Illustrated graded the Panthers as having the 10th highest "NFL Fan Value Experience".

2007: NFC South Runners-Up

In 2007, the Carolina Panthers finished as runners-up 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: Mention of 2008 Lions

In 2001, the Carolina Panthers tied the NFL record for most losses in a single season, since broken by the 2008 Lions.

2008: Jonathan Stewart Joins Panthers

In 2008, Jonathan Stewart joined the Carolina Panthers and played with the team for 11 seasons.

2008: Playoff Appearance

In 2008, the Carolina Panthers made a 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, throwing 18 interceptions before breaking a finger, and the Panthers finished with an 8-8 record.

2009: Mark and Jon Richardson Step Down

In 2009, Mark Richardson stepped down as team president, and his brother Jon stepped down as president of Bank of America Stadium.

2009: Melee During Game Against Tampa Bay

In 2009, an illegal hit on Tampa Bay's punt returner Clifton Smith sparked a brief melee during a game against the Carolina Panthers.

2010: John Kasay's Last Season with Panthers

2010 was John Kasay's last season with the Carolina Panthers, ending his 16-season run with 1,482 points.

2010: John Fox's Tenure Ends

In 2010, John Fox's tenure as head coach of the Carolina Panthers ended.

2010: League-Worst Record

In 2010, after releasing Delhomme, the Carolina Panthers finished with a league-worst 2-14 record, leading to John Fox's departure.

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 Panthers

In 2011, Cam Newton joined the Carolina Panthers and played with the team for nine seasons.

2011: Ron Rivera Becomes Head Coach

In 2011, Ron Rivera became the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.

July 30, 2012: "Carolina Panthers Day" Declared

On July 30, 2012, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley declared "Carolina Panthers Day" in her state.

2012: "Keep Pounding" Chant Introduced

During the 2012 season, the "keep pounding" chant was introduced by the Carolina Panthers before the opening kickoff of each home game.

2012: Marty Hurney Fired

In 2012, after a poor start to the season, the Carolina Panthers fired general manager Marty Hurney and finished with a 7-9 record.

2012: NFC South Runners-Up

In 2012, the Carolina Panthers finished as runners-up in the NFC South.

2012: Introduction of All-Black Uniforms

In 2012, the Carolina Panthers introduced all-black uniforms, pairing their black jerseys with black pants for a game against the Denver Broncos.

2012: Logo and Logotype Change

In 2012, the Panthers changed their logo and logotype for the first time in team history, giving it an "aggressive, contemporary look".

2012: Keep Pounding Collar

Starting with the 2012 season, Nike altered the Panthers' jersey collar to feature the phrase "Keep Pounding" in honor of Sam Mills.

2012: Introduction of Keep Pounding Drum

Starting with the 2012 season, the Panthers introduced the Keep Pounding Drum, inspired by Sam Mills' motivational speech.

July 2013: All-Black Uniform Wins Contest

In July 2013, the Panthers' all-black uniforms won the "Greatest Uniform in NFL History" contest.

2013: Steve Smith's Last Season with Panthers

2013 was Steve Smith's last season with the Carolina Panthers, ending his 13-year tenure with 12,197 receiving yards.

2013: WCCB Loses Fox Affiliation

In 2013, WCCB lost the Fox affiliation to WJZY but retained its role as the Carolina Panthers' television partner.

2013: NFC South Championship

In 2013, the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South championship.

2014: NFC South Champions

In 2014, despite a losing record, the Carolina Panthers won their second consecutive NFC South championship.

2014: Divisional Round Loss

In 2014, the Carolina Panthers lost in the divisional round to the Seattle Seahawks.

2015: #OneCarolina Campaign

During the 2015 NFC Championship and Super Bowl, the hashtag #OneCarolina was used to show unified support for the Panthers.

2015: Debut of All-Blue Uniforms

During the 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 and Super Bowl Appearance

In 2015, the Carolina Panthers finished the season 15-1, with Cam Newton named NFL MVP, and secured their third consecutive NFC South championship, but lost Super Bowl 50 to the Denver Broncos.

2015: Super Bowl Appearance

In 2015, the Carolina Panthers returned to the Super Bowl but lost to the Denver Broncos.

2015: NFC South Championship & NFC Championship Game Win

In 2015, the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South championship and won the NFC Championship Game.

2016: Sam Mills Jersey Retired

As of 2016, Sam Mills is the only player to have his jersey number (#51) retired by the Panthers.

2016: Regression and Playoff Miss

In 2016, the Carolina Panthers regressed to a 6-10 record, missing the playoffs.

2017: Playoff Appearance

In 2017, the Carolina Panthers appeared in 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: Danny Morrison Resigns

In early 2017, Danny Morrison resigned from the Carolina Panthers presidency.

2017: Saints Defeat Panthers in Wild Card Round

In the 2017-18 postseason, the New Orleans Saints defeated the Carolina Panthers 31-26 in their lone postseason meeting in the Wild Card Round.

May 16, 2018: Tepper Agreement to Purchase Panthers

On May 16, 2018, David Tepper finalized an agreement to purchase the Carolina Panthers.

May 22, 2018: David Tepper Purchase Approved

On May 22, 2018, league owners unanimously approved David Tepper's purchase of the Carolina Panthers from Jerry Richardson.

July 9, 2018: Tepper Purchase 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 team president of the Carolina Panthers.

2018: Jonathan Stewart's Last Season with Panthers

2018 was Jonathan Stewart's last season with the Carolina Panthers, ending his 11-season run with 6,868 rushing yards.

June 5, 2019: Announcement of New Practice Facility

On June 5, 2019, the Panthers formally announced their plan for a new $1 billion team headquarters and training facility in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

July 2019: Groundbreaking for New Practice Facility

In July 2019, the groundbreaking took place for the Carolina Panthers' new training facility and headquarters, "The Rock", in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

December 3, 2019: Ron Rivera Fired, Perry Fewell Named Interim Coach

On December 3, 2019, Ron Rivera was fired as head coach of the Carolina Panthers, and Perry Fewell was named interim head coach.

2019: WSOC-TV Becomes Television Partner

In 2019, WSOC-TV in Charlotte took over as the Carolina Panthers' television partner, replacing WCCB.

2019: Rivera Fired

In 2019, the Carolina Panthers finished 5-11 and Tepper fired Ron Rivera as head coach.

2019: New Uniforms Unveiled

In 2019, the Panthers unveiled new uniforms with minor differences, such as stripes extending down to the socks and the removal of hip logos.

January 7, 2020: Hiring of Matt Rhule

On January 7, 2020, the Carolina Panthers hired Baylor head coach Matt Rhule to be their new head coach.

January 15, 2020: Luke Kuechly Retirement

On January 15, 2020, Luke Kuechly announced his retirement from the league.

March 17, 2020: Signing of Teddy Bridgewater

On March 17, 2020, the Panthers signed Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year $63 million contract.

2020: Cam Newton's Last Season with Panthers

2020 was Cam Newton's last season with the Carolina Panthers, ending his nine-season run with 29,041 passing yards.

November 11, 2021: Cam Newton Signed

On November 11, 2021, Cam Newton signed a one-year deal with the Panthers after Sam Darnold was put on injured reserve.

2021: Preseason Broadcasting Team Announced

As of 2021, the Carolina Panthers preseason television broadcasting team consists of Taylor Zarzour, Steve Smith, and Kristen Balboni.

March 2022: Transgender Cheerleader

In March 2022, the Carolina Topcats became the first NFL cheerleading team to have a transgender member, Justine Lindsay.

April 19, 2022: Termination of Rock Hill Agreement

On April 19, 2022, the agreement with Rock Hill for the new practice facility was terminated, with owner David Tepper filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

October 10, 2022: Matt Rhule Fired

On October 10, 2022, after a 1-4 start to the season, Matt Rhule was fired as head coach.

2022: Introduction of Secondary Black Helmets

In 2022, 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 new head coach of the Carolina Panthers.

November 27, 2023: Frank Reich Fired

On November 27, 2023, Frank Reich was fired as head coach of the Carolina Panthers after a 1-10 start to the season.

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. The two teams have never met in the postseason.

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. The teams have never met in the postseason.

2023: Team Valuation

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 head coach.

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