Julius Peppers, North Carolina legend

Is there anyone more North Carolina than this man?

Born in Wilson County, about a three-hour drive from Charlotte, Peppers has bled Carolina blue from start to finish. He played his high school ball at Southern Nash Senior High School in Bailey, N.C., attended the University of North Carolina—where he’d become a unanimous All-American and even walk on as a member of the 1999-2000 Final Four basketball team—and was drafted by his hometown Panthers with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2002 draft.

“The Freak of Nature” played 10 of his 17 pro seasons in Carolina, finishing his career fourth on the all-time sacks list with 159.5. In addition to his college awards, topped by the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Lombardi Award, he went on to capture numerous NFL honors as a Panther, including two of his three career First-Team All-Pro selections, five of his nine Pro Bowl nominations, the Defensive Rookie of the Year award plus being named to both the 2000s and 2010s All-Decade teams.

After spending seven years away with stints in Chicago and Green Bay from 2010 to 2016, Peppers came back home to a warm and successful return for his final two seasons in 2017 and 2018. He retired as the franchise leader in sacks (97) and forced fumbles (34), and has made an even more lasting impact as a positive force in the North Carolina community.