Category: Panthers legends

Panthers great Luke Kuechly gives his thoughts on Bryce Young’s performance vs. Chiefs

Panthers great Luke Kuechly believes Bryce Young’s outing against the Chiefs in Week 12 was one of his best as a pro.

Carolina Panthers great Luke Kuechly had a pretty good seat for what may have been the best game of Bryce Young’s NFL career.

Kuechly, fresh off yesterday’s shift in the radio broadcast booth at Bank of America Stadium, made his weekly appearance on Monday’s episode of Up & Adams. He and host Kay Adams chatted about Carolina’s valiant effort from their 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12, where Young absolutely shined.

Young completed 21 of his 35 passing attempts for a season-high 263 yards and a touchdown. In his four games since returning to the starting lineup, he’s connected on 61.0 percent of his throws for 784 yards, five scores and three interceptions while leading the Panthers to a pair of wins.

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2 Panthers legends named semifinalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2025 class

Panthers greats Steve Smith Sr. and Luke Kuechly are amongst the 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2025 class.

Two Carolina Panthers greats are one step closer to immortalizing their legacies.

On Wednesday morning, former wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. and former linebacker Luke Kuechly were named amongst the 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2025 class. This marks Smith’s fourth year of eligibility for a spot in Canton, Ohio and Kuechly’s first.

Each of Smith’s four years on the ballot have now taken him into semifinalist status. He has yet to advance as a finalist.

Smith spent 13 of his 16 pro campaigns in Carolina—where he accumulated a franchise-leading 12,197 receiving yards, two First-team All-Pro nods, five Pro Bowl selections and a Comeback Player of the Year award. He stands as the NFL’s eighth all-time leading receiver (14,731 yards).

Kuechly’s highly-decorated career could very well turn him into a first-ballot Hall of Famer. The former ninth overall pick—over his eight seasons—captured a Defensive Rookie of the Year award, a Defensive Player of the Year award, five First-team All-Pro spots and seven Pro Bowl spots.

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Panthers great Cam Newton starring in ‘toughest’ celebrity reality show

Former Panthers QB Cam Newton will be one of 16 celebrities starring in the latest season of FOX’s ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.’

Carolina Panthers legend Cam Newton has gone to battle on the gridiron plenty of times. But has that prepared him for something a little bit closer to actual warfare?

Newton has been announced as one of 16 celebrities who will star in the upcoming season of FOX’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. The reality series will see its contestants undergo military training to face the “harshest, most grueling challenges from the playbook of the actual Special Forces selection process,” according to FOX.

This season is set from Wales, England—where celebrities will train against the “harsh reality” of ocean warfare.

Here’s the trailer, which was released on Friday:

Newton is joined by the following celebrities:

  • Nathan Adrian (Olympic swimmer)
  • Stephen Baldwin (actor)
  • Alana Blanchard (pro surfer)
  • Landon Donovan (former pro soccer player)
  • Ali Fedotowsky Manno (reality TV star)
  • Carey Hart (motocross champion)
  • Brody Jenner (reality TV star)
  • Marion Jones (Olympic track and field athlete)
  • Kayla Nicole (model/influencer)
  • Kyla Pratt (actress)
  • Denise Richards (actress)
  • Christy Carlson Romano (actress)
  • Trista Sutter (reality TV star)
  • Golden Tate (former NFL wide receiver)
  • Jordyn Wieber (Olympic gymnast)

The season premiere will air on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. ET.

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Cam Newton explains why he believes Panthers are ‘avoiding his legacy’ in emotional video

Cam Newton feels as though the Panthers have been avoiding his legacy. He revealed why in an emotional video from Thursday.

The greatest Carolina Panther of all-time isn’t feeling the love from the Carolina Panthers.

On Thursday’s episode of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton, Cam Newton was asked about the organization’s trip to Munich, Germany from this past weekend. The visit featured a handful of former Panthers players representing the franchise as ambassadors—including Steve Smith Sr., Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly.

That group, however, did not include Newton—who says he was not invited overseas.

A visibly bothered Newton then stated that the Panthers do not have any images of him up at their home of Bank of America Stadium, something he painfully learned while returning to the building for a seven-on-seven tournament last year.

“We went into the Panthers’ facility and . . . you mean to tell me that one of the greatest Panthers to ever play ain’t up nowhere? Nowhere. I’m talkin’ nowhere,” he said. “Who brought it to my attention? My son. So as a man, when you have to explain to your son . . . ‘Daddy, where’s your picture?’

“Then you know what the tour guide person said? ‘Oh, if you go up on the second and third level, Cam’s all over the place. I seen Jake Delhomme. I seen Thomas Davis. I seen Luke Kuechly. I seen Julius Peppers. I seen Steve Smith.

“At this particular point in time, the question was ‘Oh, we don’t know if Cam’s retired yet.’ News flash—I’m never gonna retire. I know I’ve played my last piece of football. It don’t matter to me to officially retire. I’m in a happy place.”

He also claimed that he reached out to the Panthers in the past about doing a live taping of his show involving himself, old teammates and current quarterback Bryce Young—but to no avail.

Newton led the Panthers to three NFC South titles, four playoff appearances and their second-ever Super Bowl appearance. On top of being the franchise’s all-time leading passer, he’s also the only Panther to win Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year.

His last down came in 2021.

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Cam Newton is asked if Panthers should start Bryce Young or Andy Dalton

Panthers great Cam Newton: “This Bryce Young experiment is dwindling before our eyes.”

Who should quarterback the Carolina Panthers for the remainder of the 2024 season? Perhaps someone should ask the greatest quarterback in franchise history.

Well, someone did—as Cam Newton was tasked with choosing between Bryce Young and Andy Dalton on the latest offering from 4th & 1 with Cam Newton.

“The season’s a wash. You gotta get Bryce Young some reps,” Newton stated of the 1-7 Panthers. “But make sure they’re good reps. We need to really figure out what the [expletive] this kid can do. He’s not a rookie no more. We’re wastin’ time. This Bryce Young experiment is dwindling before our eyes.”

Young, who was benched at the beginning of Week 3, will be getting his second consecutive nod this weekend since returning to the starting lineup. His first, which ended in a 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos last Sunday, saw him complete 24 of his 37 throws for 224 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Newton then questioned the Panthers, who traded away their leading receiver Diontae Johnson this past Tuesday.

“But in Bryce Young’s defense, who is he gonna throw the ball to?” he added. “Is the system in place for him to be successful?”

Young will probably also be without last year’s top receiver in Adam Thielen, who has been ruled as doubtful for the Week 9 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

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Panthers legends among final 50 modern-era candidates for 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class

Two Panthers legends are closer to Canton.

Two Carolina Panthers greats are a little bit closer to Canton.

On Wednesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Modern-Era Screening Committee trimmed the list of 167 nominees for its 2025 class to just 50. Among the 50 nominees who have advanced to the next stage of consideration include former wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. and former linebacker Luke Kuechly.

Smith Sr. has been named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for each of the past three years. On top of being the franchise’s all-time leading pass catcher, Smith Sr. also ranks eighth on the NFL’s all-time receiving list (14,731).

Kuechly, who retired at the age of 28, is in his very first year of eligibility. He was named the 2012 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and the 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and earned five First-team All-Pro nods and seven Pro Bowl selections.

The full selection committee will now reduce the number of nominees to 25 in about four weeks.

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Panthers great Luke Kuechly looks back on his emotional reaction to concussion in 2016

Panthers great Luke Kuechly sobbed uncontrollably after sustaining a concussion in 2016. He looked back on that moment this week.

To some, it may have been before his time—but the retirement of Carolina Panthers great Luke Kuechly actually came right on time.

The former linebacker joined this past week’s episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast, hosted by NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. When touching on the difficult conversation about concussions, which had an impact on the careers of both Kuechly and Earnhardt Jr., Kuechly talked about when he knew it was time to walk away from the game.

“I love everything about football,” he said. “I love the offseason, I love training camp, I love OTAs, I love being around the guys, I like flying to games, I love playing football, I love to practice. I get to wake up every day and put sweats on and go hang out with 120 of my boys and play football and lift weights and hang out.

“But I knew . . . I got hit a few times the previous couple of years. I got hit a couple times that year, I had some other stuff that was bugging me and I just remember after one game, late in that season, I was like, ‘Man . . . I just can’t do it anymore.’ I can’t play how I want to, I can’t be as physical as I want to because stuff was starting to happen and I just remember I got home that night and I’m like, ‘Can’t do it.'”

Kuechly retired at the age of 28 due to the effects of his concussions. His career ended up spanning eight seasons—a Hall of Fame-worthy tenure decorated by a Defensive Player of the Year award, five First-team All-Pro nods and seven Pro Bowl selections.

While continuing to navigate through the topic, Kuechly then recalled the very emotional (and nationally-televised) reaction he had to a concussion back in 2016 . . .

He’d call it a career three years later.

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49ers TE George Kittle recalls NFL debut vs. Julius Peppers, Cam Newton: ‘I’m gonna die’

49ers TE George Kittle was welcomed into the NFL by a couple of freaks of nature back in 2017.

At 6-foot-7 and 295 pounds and at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, Carolina Panthers legends Julius Peppers and Cam Newton were two absolute freaks of nature on the football field. So just imagine the shock of having to face them both—and in your NFL debut, no less.

Well, George Kittle didn’t have to imagine it, because he actually experienced it.

The San Francisco 49ers tight end lived to tell that tale on this week’s episode of the Cleats & Convos podcast, hosted by his teammate and All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel. When Samuel asked Kittle about his “Welcome to the NFL” moment, Kittle looked back on his regular-season debut against the Panthers from 2017 . . .

That matchup saw Carolina dominate San Francisco en route to a 23-3 victory. Newton passed for a pair of touchdowns while Peppers, in the first game of his second act with the Panthers, posted half a sack.

Kittle, who came out a-okay, reeled in five passes for 27 yards.

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Panthers great Cam Newton joining ESPN’s ‘First Take’ as regular panelist

Cam Newton is signing a deal . . . with ESPN!

Cam Newton will be back on your television screens.

As announced on Thursday, the Carolina Panthers legend has agreed to a contract with ESPN to become a regular panelist on First Take—the network’s signature morning debate show.

David Roberts, ESPN’s executive vice president and executive editor of sports news and entertainment, had the following to say about the super signing in the following statement this morning:

“Cam Newton’s addition to First Take brings an electrifying presence, enhancing our roster of top-tier personalities,” Roberts said. “His dynamic charisma, combined with the high-profile debates alongside Stephen A. Smith, will create compelling, must-watch television for fans.”

Newton was also included in the official release.

“I’ve always brought passion and energy into everything I do, and that won’t change at ESPN,” he stated. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to share my perspective and go toe-to-toe with the best in the business. Fans can expect the same intensity I brought to the field, along with real talk, bold takes, and good fun.”

Behind the growing popularity of his YouTube channel, the former NFL Most Valuable Player has successfully transitioned into media since his playing days. Newton, who isn’t officially retired from the game, last played in 2021.

His First Take debut is set for tomorrow’s live show from Tennessee State University.

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Panthers great Luke Kuechly praises Xavier Legette for Week 4 performance

Panthers legend Luke Kuechly seemed awfully impressed by Xavier Legette’s performance in Week 4.

A Carolina Panthers legend is riding with rookie wideout Xavier Legette.

Former linebacker Luke Kuechly talked about his favorite cats during his weekly spot on Up & Adams today. When host Kay Adams asked Kuechly for his thoughts on yesterday’s 34-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, he began by praising Carolina’s 2024 first-round pick.

“I think the biggest takeaway—Xavier Legette played really well yesterday,” Kuechly said. “He had a couple drops, but that’s okay for a young guy. But he stepped up and he played like the receiver that we drafted.”

Legette, in the team’s first outing since losing veteran receiver Adam Thielen to a hamstring injury, stepped up for 66 yards and a score on six receptions. And as promised, he even trotted out ol’ Dolla Bill in end zone to celebrate the first touchdown of his NFL career.

Kuechly continued.

“His effort’s really good, his one-two’s really good,” he added. “We drafted a guy we wanted to run down the field, be fast, be physical and be a difficult guard for defensive backs.

“And watching him run his routes—I’ma go back to that glance—he pushed up on this DB, he got into his chest, he stemmed him, he snapped it off. Once that DB got behind him and he got him on his back, you’re not playing through Xavier Legette to get that ball.”

So, even in defeat, at least it’s good to know that Kuechly thinks the kid will be alright.

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