Tag: Carolina Panthers

Tom Brady’s Super Bowl LIX commentary had NFL fans missing Greg Olsen

Panthers great Greg Olsen was sorely missed during FOX’s broadcast of Super Bowl LIX.

Tom Brady may be the “G.O.A.T.” of the gridiron, but the same cannot be said—at least for now—about his abilities in the broadcast booth. That title, rather, may currently belong to a Carolina Panthers great.

FOX’s presentation of the Philadelphia Eagles’ dominant Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs had its A-squad on the call, with Kevin Burkhardt on play-by-play duties and Brady on analysis. That two-man team looked a bit different just a few years ago, as former Panthers tight end Greg Olsen was the network’s No. 1 color commentator in the last Chiefs-Eagles showdown.

Olsen, however, was bumped away from Burkhardt beginning this season—leaving the top spot to Brady. And since then, fans have missed the two-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster.

Sunday night was no different . . .

[lawrence-related id=699357,697566,691194]

Panthers reportedly hire Bills trainer credited with saving Damar Hamlin’s life

The Panthers have reportedly hired Bills associate athletic trainer Denny Kellington, who has been credited with saving Damar Hamlin’s life.

The Carolina Panthers now have themselves a literal life-saver.

According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the team has hired Buffalo Bills associate athletic trainer Denny Kellington as their vice president of player health and performance. Kellington has been credited with helping save the life of safety Damar Hamlin—who experienced an episode of commotio cordis, a rare disruption of heart rhythm, during a Monday night game on Jan. 2, 2023.

Hamlin collapsed on the field following a tackle of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Kellington would then provide immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a motionless Hamlin, a decision that proved to be a critical one.

Kellington spoke about the moment while giving the commencement address at his alma mater of Oklahoma State University later that spring.

“I was not a hero on January 2nd, I was ready,” he stated. “I was ready because I dedicated my life to this work and because I had the support of my friends, my family, and my mentors.”

Kellington received a fifth-place vote for the AP’s Most Valuable Player Award at the end of the season.

[lawrence-related id=671945,711034,711026]

Panthers great Cam Newton throws the winning TD in celebrity Super Bowl game

Panthers legend Cam Newton won (at) the Super Bowl!

Cam Newton just won (at) the Super Bowl!

The Carolina Panthers legend participated in Saturday’s celebrity flag football game from New Orleans, hosted by the NFL’s official YouTube channel. Newton played quarterback (of course) for Team Speed, captained by popular online streamer IShowSpeed, against Team Kai, captained by (another) popular online streamer Kai Cenat.

And, as he often does, the former Most Valuable Player showed up in style . . .

He also, as he often did in Carolina, became a hero.

Watch Newton, down by five points with just nine seconds remaining, hit rapper and fellow Georgian Quavo for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown:

How’s that for a little Super Bowl redemption?

[lawrence-related id=710891,710557,706919]

NFL insider suggests Panthers could extend WR Adam Thielen

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler thinks the Panthers could rework a deal with WR Adam Thielen.

Not only will Carolina Panthers wideout Adam Thielen be back for the 2025 season, but one league insider believes he could be here to stay . . . for at least a little bit longer.

ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler emptied out his notebook this morning, just ahead of tomorrow’s Super Bowl LIX matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. And among the latest buzz he laid out was the following about Thielen’s future in Carolina:

The Panthers want veteran receiver Adam Thielen back in 2025. He’s due more than $6 million in overall payout in the last year of his contract. Carolina and Thielen could always renegotiate to find a sweet spot on a new one-year deal or an extension. But my sense is the team does not plan to release Thielen, who does want to be on a winning team.

Luckily for the Panthers, Thielen will be back in 2025. The 34-year-old, while making the rounds at “Radio Row” this past week,” confirmed the belief that he won’t head into retirement this offseason.

Despite missing seven games in 2024 due to a hamstring strain, Thielen still proved that he’s got it. The two-time Pro Bowler, following his return from the injury, recorded 40 catches for 506 yards and four touchdowns over seven outings.

Thielen is entering the final season of the three-year, $25 million deal he signed in 2023.

[lawrence-related id=711140,708590,707761]

Cam Newton wouldn’t trade his MVP award for a Super Bowl ring

Cam Newton said he wouldn’t trade his NFL MVP award for a Super Bowl ring, noting that Brad Johnson, Trent Dilfer and Nick Foles won titles.

Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton had a brilliant season in 2015, totaling 4,473 yards from scrimmage and scoring 45 touchdowns. He took home NFL MVP honors following that impressive campaign.

In the Super Bowl, though, Newton and the Panthers were dominated by Von Miller and the Denver Broncos, who won 24-10. During a recent interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith on First Take, Newton said he would not trade his MVP award for a Super Bowl ring.

“Let me remind you — Brad Johnson won a Super Bowl,” Newton said. “Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl. Respectfully, Nick Foles won a Super Bowl. So, yes, when you look at those guys and you say, ‘What’s more important? Would you have preferred to win a Super Bowl?’ I think that’s a humble approach.”

Newton went completed 18-of-41 passes for 265 yards with one interception and two fumbles in Carolina’s loss to Denver in Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season. He’d rather have that result than give up his MVP award, which is an interesting choice.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Panthers QB Bryce Young defends Andy Dalton with incredible comedic timing

Panthers QB Bryce Young gave Andy Dalton a well-timed shoutout from New Orleans on Friday.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young still hasn’t cracked at “Radio Row” this week.

After a few impressive interview performances with FanDuel’s Kay Adams and NBC Sports’ Dan Patrick down near the site of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Young joined Friday’s episode of The Facility.

And despite a bit of egging on from host and former wide receiver James Jones, the 23-year-old didn’t bite on a comment regarding teammate Andy Dalton. In fact, he played it cool—as he so often does . . .

Young, of course, was benched at the beginning of the 2024 campaign following a pair of nightmare outings. Dalton jumped in for the 2023 No. 1 overall pick in Week 3, and led the Panthers to their first win of the year in his first start—where he threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns.

But the 14th-year veteran didn’t do much after that. Dalton went on to pass for just 670 yards, four scores and six interceptions over the next four games—all of which ended in double-digit losses.

His season would be unexpectedly cut short before Week 8, when he injured his right thumb in a car accident. Young took over from there—amassing 2,104 passing yards, 20 total touchdowns and six picks while leading Carolina to a 4-6 mark.

Dalton, 37, will officially become a free agent in March.

[lawrence-related id=708257,710004,709256]

2 more Panthers greats will be eligible for Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026

Two more Panthers greats will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame starting next season.

There’s going to be quite a few Carolina Panthers legends on next season’s Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot.

With the 2025 class officially announced on Thursday night, we can now look forward to 2026—where a pair of old friends will get their initial crack at taking up residence in Canton, Ohio. Among the notable players with first-year eligibility are tight end Greg Olsen and linebacker Thomas Davis.

Olsen, who was traded to the Panthers in 2011 for a third-round pick, played nine of his 14 NFL seasons in Carolina. Up through the 2019 campaign, he reeled in 524 receptions for 6,463 yards and 39 touchdowns.

When adding in his four years in Chicago and his one in Seattle, Olsen finished with 8,683 receiving yards—the seventh-most all-time by a tight end. The two-time second-team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler was also the first tight end in league history to record three straight seasons of 1,000 receiving yards.

Davis was selected by the Panthers with the 14th overall pick of the 2005 NFL draft. He’d become the first player to ever successfully return from three ACL tears, all of which occurred to the same knee.

The setbacks didn’t spell the end for Davis, who played his best ball after the injuries. Davis went on to earn three Pro Bowl nods and a first-team All-Pro selection, beginning in his age 32 season.

Both Olsen and Davis were key presences for Carolina’s three straight NFC South titles from 2013 and 2015, a journey that ended with the franchise’s second-ever Super Bowl appearance.

They will be under consideration alongside former teammates Luke Kuechly and Steve Smith Sr., both of whom fell short as finalists for the 2025 class.

[lawrence-related id=699435,650973,677319]

Here’s the good news about Luke Kuechly’s Hall of Fame chances . . .

Panthers legend Luke Kuechly may have missed out on the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, but there’s a silver lining.

Well, Carolina Panthers great Luke Kuechly won’t be a first-ballot Hall of Famer here in 2025. But on the bright side, he does have a head-start for 2026.

The former linebacker was not named one of the four members for Canton’s upcoming class—a group that includes cornerback Eric Allen, wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, tight end Antonio Gates and former Panthers defensive end Jared Allen. Kuechly did, however, finish in the top seven of the voting amongst this year’s finalists—which, by a new rule, automatically makes him a finalist for next year.

Kuechly will move right into that stage alongside wide receiver Torry Holt, offensive tackle Willie Anderson and kicker Adam Vinatieri. That means there will be 11 spots available for 2026’s final round of deliberation.

Had he been officially sent to the Hall of Fame on Thursday night, Kuechly would have been just the 11th linebacker to make it in his first year of eligibility. Chuck Bednarik (1967), Ray Nitschke (1978), Dick Butkus (1979), Jack Ham (1988), Jack Lambert (1990), Mike Singletary (1998), Taylor (1999), Junior Seau (2015), Brian Urlacher (2018) and Ray Lewis (2018) remain the only 10.

[lawrence-related id=705179,693521,711109]

Former Panthers DE Jared Allen named to Pro Football Hall of Fame

Well, at least one former Panther is headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.

Steve Smith Sr. and Luke Kuechly may not have gotten their knocks this year, but at least another former Carolina Panther is headed to the Hall.

On Thursday night, defensive end Jared Allen was named one of four members for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2025 class. He will be inducted this summer alongside Sterling Sharpe, Eric Allen and Antonio Gates.

Allen played the final 14 games of his NFL career with the Panthers, who traded for the then-33-year-old pass rusher in the middle of the 2015 campaign. That year saw Carolina go 15-1 in the regular season en route to their second-ever Super Bowl appearance.

Prior to his short stint in Charlotte, Allen split his first 11 years (and part of his 12th) between the Kansas City Chiefs (2004 to 2008), the Minnesota Vikings (2008 to 2013) and the Chicago Bears (2014 to 2015).

The former fourth-round pick, who led the league in sacks in 2007 and 2011, finished with four first-team All-Pro selections and five Pro Bowl nods.

[lawrence-related id=691269,690981,691273]

Panthers legend Steve Smith Sr. not named to Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2025 class

Carolina’s all-time leading receiver Steve Smith Sr. will have to wait at least one more year for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Carolina Panthers great Steve Smith Sr. will have to continue his pursuit of Canton, Ohio.

The former wide receiver was not voted as one of the four inductees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025. Smith Sr., a first-time finalist for football’s greatest honor, was on his fourth year of eligibility.

A third-round pick in the 2001 NFL draft, Smith Sr. played 13 of his 16 professional seasons in Carolina. He still stands as the organization’s all-time leading receiver, as he amassed 12,197 yards and 67 touchdowns on 836 receptions for the Panthers.

After parting ways with the team following the 2013 campaign, Smith Sr. finished out the final three years of his pro career with the Baltimore Ravens—adding 2,534 more yards, 14 more scores and 195 more catches. He is currently the eighth leading receiver (14,731 yards) in league history.

Smith Sr. reeled in numerous honors over his time—including two first-team All-Pro selections, a second-team All-Pro selection and five Pro Bowl nods. He was also named the 2005 AP Comeback Player of the Year—a season in which he led the entire NFL in receptions (103), receiving yards (1,563) and receiving touchdowns (12).

[lawrence-related id=685720,679117,674818]