History of Carolina Panthers in Timeline

The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, competing in the NFL as part of the NFC South division. They are headquartered at and play home games in Bank of America Stadium in 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, highlighting their support across both North and South Carolina.

1959: Richardson's Championship Bonus

In 1959, Jerry Richardson, a former wide receiver on the Baltimore Colts, used his league championship bonus to co-franchise the first Hardee's restaurant in Spartanburg, SC.

1976: NFL Record for Losses Tied

The Carolina Panthers tied the NFL record for most losses in a single season, breaking the record held by the winless 1976 Buccaneers for most consecutive losses in a single season.

1980: NFL Playoff Shutout

In 2005, the Carolina Panthers beat the New York Giants 23-0, the NFL's first playoff shutout against a home team since 1980.

December 15, 1987: Jerry Richardson Announces Bid for NFL Franchise

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 around the Carolinas to highlight the demand for professional football.

1991: Application Filed for Expansion Spot

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

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

On October 26, 1993, the 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: Carolina 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 Carolina Panthers' first team president.

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 began his 16-season career with the Carolina Panthers.

1995: Inaugural Season

In 1995, the Carolina Panthers began play under founding owner Jerry Richardson, finishing their first season with a 7-9 record.

1995: Panthers Begin Playing Football

In 1995, the Carolina Panthers began playing football.

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: NFC Championship Game Loss and NFC West Championship

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

1996: Move to Charlotte

In 1996, the Carolina Panthers moved to Bank of America Stadium in Uptown Charlotte, which has served as the team's home field since then.

1997: Mike McCormack Inducted into Hall of Honor

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: Establishment of Hall of Honor

In 1997, the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor was established to recognize individuals for their contributions to the organization.

1997: Second-Place Finish in NFC West

In 1997, the Carolina Panthers finished second-place in the NFC West.

1997: 7-9 Finish

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

1998: Dom Capers Ends Tenure

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

1999: George Seifert Coaches Team

In 1999, George Seifert began coaching the Carolina Panthers.

1999: 8-8 Season with Seifert

In 1999, George Seifert led the Carolina Panthers to an 8-8 record.

1999: "Stand and Cheer" Fight Song Pulled

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

1999: Second-Place Finish in NFC West

In 1999, the Carolina Panthers finished second-place in the NFC West.

2000: 7-9 Season

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

2001: George Seifert Ends Coaching Tenure

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

2001: Steve Smith Joins Panthers

In 2001, Steve Smith began his 13-year career with the Carolina Panthers.

2001: 1-15 Season and Seifert's Firing

In 2001, the Carolina Panthers had a poor performance with a 1-15 record, leading to George Seifert's dismissal. However, the team drafted future franchise wide receiver Steve Smith.

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, also the year the team selected 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 five titles.

2003: Rivalry with Tampa Bay Heats Up

Before the 2003 season, the Carolina Panthers' rivalry with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became heated due to verbal bouts between players.

2003: NFC Championship Win and NFC South Championship

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

2003: Super Bowl XXXVIII Appearance

In 2003, the Carolina Panthers won the NFC Championship Game and reached Super Bowl XXXVIII, where they lost to the New England Patriots.

2003: Establishment of Keep Pounding Fund

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

2003: First Super Bowl Appearance Since 2003 Season

In the 2015-16 playoffs, the Panthers advanced to Super Bowl 50, their first Super Bowl appearance since the 2003 season.

2004: 7-9 Season Finish

After a 1-7 start, the Carolina Panthers rebounded in 2004, finishing the season at 7-9.

2004: Sam Mills' Motivational Speech

In 2004, Sam Mills delivered a motivational speech before the team's playoff game against the Cowboys which later inspired the 'Keep Pounding Drum' tradition in 2012.

2005: Playoff Berth as Wild Card

In 2005, the Carolina Panthers improved to 11-5, finishing second in the division behind Tampa Bay and clinching a playoff berth as a wild card. They beat the New York Giants 23-0, the NFL's first playoff shutout against a home team since 1980. However Julius Peppers and DeShaun Foster were injured.

2005: NFC Championship Game Loss

In 2005, the Carolina Panthers lost an NFC Championship Game.

2005: Playoff Appearance

In 2005, the Carolina Panthers made a playoff appearance.

2006: Disappointing Season

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

2006: "Stand and Cheer" Fight Song Returns

In 2006, the Carolina Panthers brought back their official fight song, "Stand and Cheer".

2006: Second-Place Finish in NFC South

In 2006, the Carolina Panthers finished second-place in the NFC South.

2007: Second-Place Finish in NFC South

In 2007, the Carolina Panthers finished second-place in the NFC South.

2007: 7-9 Record Due to Injury

The Carolina Panthers finished the 2007 season with a 7-9 record after losing quarterback Jake Delhomme early in the season due to an elbow injury.

2008: Jonathan Stewart Joins Panthers

In 2008, Jonathan Stewart began his tenure with the Carolina Panthers.

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, but were eliminated in the divisional round.

2008: NFL Record Broken

The 2001 Carolina Panthers' record for most consecutive losses in a single season was broken by the 2008 Lions.

2009: Delhomme's Struggles

In 2009, Jake Delhomme struggled with 18 interceptions, leading to a 4-7 record before an injury. Matt Moore led the team to a 4-1 finish, resulting in an 8-8 overall record for the Carolina Panthers.

2009: Mark and Jon Richardson Step Down

In 2009, Mark and Jon Richardson stepped down from their roles with the Carolina Panthers.

2009: Melee During Game Against Tampa Bay

In 2009, an illegal hit on Tampa Bay punt returner Clifton Smith sparked a brief melee between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

2010: John Kasay's Last Season with Panthers

2010 was John Kasay's last season with the Carolina Panthers, finishing as the team's career points leader.

2010: John Fox Ends Tenure

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

2010: League-Worst Record and Fox's Departure

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

2010: Equipment Grants to High School Football Teams

Since 2010, Carolina Panthers Charities and Fisher Athletic have annually provided six equipment grants to high school football teams in the Carolinas.

2011: Cam Newton Joins Panthers

In 2011, Cam Newton began his nine-season career with the Carolina Panthers.

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 it "Carolina Panthers Day" in the state, recognizing the team's connection with South Carolina.

2012: "Keep Pounding" Chant Introduced

During the 2012 season, the "Keep Pounding" chant was introduced before the opening kickoff of each Carolina Panthers home game.

2012: Second-Place Finish in NFC South

In 2012, the Carolina Panthers finished second-place in the NFC South.

2012: Poor Season Start

In 2012, the Carolina Panthers started the season poorly, leading to the firing of Marty Hurney.

2012: Introduction of the Keep Pounding Drum

Starting in 2012, the Panthers introduced the Keep Pounding Drum tradition, inspired by Sam Mills' 2004 motivational speech. Before each home game, an honorary drummer strikes the six-foot-tall 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 contest run by NFL.com.

2013: Steve Smith's Last Season with Panthers

2013 was Steve Smith's last season with the Carolina Panthers, finishing as the team's leading receiver.

2013: WCCB Loses Fox Affiliation

In 2013, WCCB lost its Fox affiliation to WJZY but retained its role as the Panthers' television partner until 2019.

2013: NFC South Championship

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

2014: Divisional Round Loss

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

2014: NFC South Championship Despite Losing Record

In 2014, the Carolina Panthers secured their second consecutive NFC South championship and a playoff berth despite a losing record of 7-8-1.

2014: NFC South Championship

In 2014, the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South championship.

2015: Super Bowl 50 Appearance

In 2015, the Carolina Panthers finished the season 15-1 and advanced to Super Bowl 50, losing to the Denver Broncos.

2015: NFC Championship Win and NFC South Championship

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

2016: Regression and Missed Playoffs

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 in the Wild Card Round to the New Orleans Saints.

2017: Danny Morrison Resigns

In early 2017, Danny Morrison resigned from his role as president.

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: David Tepper Finalizes Purchase Agreement

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: Panthers' Sale 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 for the Carolina Panthers.

2018: Jonathan Stewart Ends Tenure with Panthers

2018 was Jonathan Stewart's last year with the Carolina Panthers, finishing as the team's career rushing leader.

December 3, 2019: Ron Rivera Fired

On December 3, 2019, Ron Rivera was fired by David Tepper following a home loss against the Washington Redskins.

2019: WSOC-TV Becomes Television Partner

In 2019, WSOC-TV became the Carolina Panthers' television partner, replacing WCCB.

January 7, 2020: Matt Rhule Hired as Head Coach

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

January 15, 2020: Luke Kuechly Announces Retirement

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

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's Last Season with Panthers

2020 was Cam Newton's last season with the Carolina Panthers, finishing as the team's career passing leader.

November 11, 2021: Cam Newton Signed to One-Year Deal

On November 11, 2021, the Carolina Panthers signed Cam Newton to a one-year deal 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 as the first NFL cheerleading team to include a transgender member, Justine Lindsay.

October 10, 2022: Matt Rhule Fired as Head Coach

On October 10, 2022, Matt Rhule was fired as head coach of the Carolina Panthers after a 1-4 start to the season. Steve Wilks was named interim head coach.

January 26, 2023: Frank Reich Hired as Head Coach

On January 26, 2023, Frank Reich was hired as the new head coach of the Carolina Panthers.

November 27, 2023: Frank Reich Fired After 1-10 Start

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.

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 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 the new head coach of the Carolina Panthers.

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