Established
1995
City
Charlotte
League History
1995 - Present / National Football League
Team History
1995 - Present / Charlotte Panthers
Nickname
Panthers - For any fan of the NFL, the Carolina Panthers have become one of the most beloved teams in recent years. But did you know that their nickname has an interesting origin story? Let’s take a look at how this football team got its name.
The Panthers were founded in 1995 and became part of the National Football League (NFL). At first, they didn't have a name or mascot. Still, after much consideration, it was decided to honor Charlotte's rich history by naming them after one of North Carolina's state animals: The Panther.
This decision wasn't made lightly; many people felt strongly about choosing something unique for their new team and wanted to pay homage to local culture and create something memorable for fans all over America. After much debate between various names such as "Revolution," "Thundercats," and even "Dragons," ultimately, it was decided that “Panthers” would be best suited for this exciting new franchise!
While some may think there isn’t anything special about being named after a wild animal, panthers are known to be fierce predators with strength beyond compare – which is why they make perfect mascots for sports teams who want an intimidating presence on game day! Plus, having such an iconic symbol associated with your franchise can help build loyalty among fans who will never forget where their favorite team came from when cheering them on during games or watching highlights afterward - no matter what happens throughout seasons ahead.
The Carolina Panthers' nickname is more than just words, though; it represents pride in both Charlotte's heritage and also serves as a reminder that no matter what obstacles come our way, we can overcome anything if we work together towards common goals - just like these powerful cats do every day out there in nature!. So next time you hear someone mention “the Panthers," don't forget all those things behind why this incredible organization chose such a fitting moniker back then and still proudly wears it today!
Championship
Super Bowl 0
Stadium
1996 - Present / Bank of America Stadium
1995 / Memorial Stadium
Owner
2018 - Present / David Tepper
1995 - 2018 / Jerry Richardson
- 1993
- 1995
- 1996
- 1996
- 2015
-
Carolina Panthers Team Formation
On December 15, 1987, entrepreneur Jerry Richardson announced his bid for an NFL expansion franchise in the Carolinas. A native of North Carolina, Richardson was a former wide receiver on the Baltimore Colts who had used his 1958 league championship bonus to co-found the Hardee’s chain of restaurants and served as president and CEO of TW Services. Richardson drew his ... -
Panther Name and Colors
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 ... -
One Year at Memorial Stadium
The Panthers played their inaugural season at Clemson University’s Memorial Stadium while the new stadium was being completed. The Panthers played their first game at the stadium on September 14, 1996. Frank Howard Field at Clemson Memorial Stadium, popularly known as “Death Valley”, is home to the Clemson Tigers, an NCAA Division I FBS football team, located in Clemson, South ... -
Bank of America Stadium
Bank of America Stadium (formerly known as Carolinas Stadium and Ericsson Stadium) is a 74,455-seat football stadium located on 33 acres (13 ha) of land in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is the home facility of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise. The largest crowd to ever attend a football game at the stadium was November 18, 2013, when a ... -
14 – 0 Start
Carolina started the season 14–0, not only setting franchise records for the best start and the longest single-season winning streak but also posting the best start to a season by an NFC team since the NFL–AFL merger, breaking the 13–0 record previously shared with the 2009 New Orleans Saints and the aforementioned 2011 Packers. They joined the 1972 Miami Dolphins, ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Panthers
The Carolina Panthers, home to the NFL Greatest Player Cam Newton, are an iconic NFL team that has been around since 1995. The Panthers have a long and storied history, having made the playoffs 11 times in their 25-year existence. This includes two Super Bowl appearances and one championship win in 2003. Over the years, they have had some of the best players to play in the NFL, including Hall of Famers Steve Smith Sr., Julius Peppers, and DeAngelo Williams.
The Carolina Panthers were founded by Jerry Richardson on October 26th, 1993, as part of an expansion draft with the Jacksonville Jaguars to become National Football League (NFL) members. They began to play during the 1995 season as part of the NFC West division. Still, they moved over to NFC South following the 2002 season realignment due to Houston Texans joining the league simultaneously, meaning there would be six teams per conference instead of five previously existing ones. On January 30th, 2004 franchise won its first-ever Super Bowl after defeating New England Patriots 32–29 under head coach John Fox who was hired before the 2003 campaign started; this victory saw them become only second team since the merger between American Football League (AFL) & National Football League (NFL) 1970 achieve such feat within 10 seasons entering the league.
During the 2008 off-season, the team signed quarterback Jake Delhomme by free agency, which proved a pivotal move for the organization’s success going forward; he led them all way through playoffs, eventually losing 23–20 against Arizona Cardinals' 2009 Divisional round despite being favorites to enter the game. Following the 2010 campaign, however, things went downhill quickly when Delhomme suffered a severe injury in early 2011 preseason games leaving NFL Greatest Player Cam Newton starting the QB role much earlier than expected – even though his debut year ended up being successful overall thanks to solid performances throughout the regular season & postseason alike it wasn’t enough to get past eventual champions New York Giants 2012 Wild Card contest where they lost 24–2 resulting end their playoff run that particular year.
While there may not be many championships or memorable moments associated with the Carolina Panthers, it remains one of the most exciting franchises out today, given how far they've come in a relatively short period, making sure to stay relevant domestically and internationally well into the future!
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
51 / Sam Mills
*Blue is this team’s history