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A win wasn’t in the cards for the Panthers on Sunday. Nonetheless, it was an afternoon the franchise and its fans will remember for a long time. #KeepPounding
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The Carolina Panthers didn’t come away with the result they wanted in Week 4. But Oct. 2, 2022 will still stand as one of the most memorable and fulfilling days in franchise history.
Here are some of the best scenes Sunday’s “Keep Pounding Game,” a remarkable tip of the cap to Panthers icon and Pro Football Hall of Famer Sam Mills.
The Panthers are hosting their “Keep Pounding Game” today and it’s looking a lot like 1995!
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Today is more than just a Week 4 game for the Carolina Panthers. Today is the “Keep Pounding Game,” and the organization is pulling out all the stops to make it a special one.
FOX Charlotte’s Will Kunkel got an early look at the Bank of America Stadium turf ahead of this weekend’s matchup between the Panthers and Arizona Cardinals. And, boy, what a throwback!
🔥Todays Panthers endzones pic.twitter.com/NnPvATH5ZF
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) October 2, 2022
Sunday’s festivities, of course, will be honoring franchise icon Sam Mills. The late, great legendary linebacker finally took his rightful spot in Canton, Ohio this summer, becoming one of the newest inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mills played three of his 15 professional seasons in Carolina—where he amassed 331 tackles, third and fourth-place finishes in AP Defensive Player of the Year voting, a First-team All-Pro nod and a Pro Bowl selection.
And the field is just the beginning. The Panthers will also be hosting the Mills family, with his widow Melanie set to hit to the “Keep Pounding” drum prior to kickoff and to unveil Sam’s Hall of Fame bust at halftime.
So, the stage is set and it’s looking a lot like 1995!
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Watch highlights of all eight Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speeches.
On Saturday, eight men joined football’s greatest fraternity, as they were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sam Mills, LeRoy Butler, Richard Seymour, Art McNally, Tony Boselli, Bryant Young, Cliff Branch, and Dick Vermeil either accepted their honors in person in Canton, Ohio, or were represented
Here are highlights of each induction speech.
Watch: Sam Mills’ bronze bust presented at Hall of Fame ceremony, Jim Mora Sr. presents the legendary Saints linebacker
Sam Mills: Forever in Canton 🙌@Panthers | @Saints
📺: #PFHOF22 Enshrinement on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/b2lcCqJwpk
— NFL (@NFL) August 6, 2022
This is really cool: the Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted legendary New Orleans Saints linebacker Sam Mills on Saturday, with longtime broadcaster Chris Berman introducing the iconic “Field Mouse” and his old coach Jim Mora Sr. leading the presentation. Mills, who died of cancer in 2005, was represented by his wife Melanie and their family at the enshrinement ceremony.
It was a terrific moment for all involved, remembering Mills’ legacy as a fan-favorite standout on the Saints’ “Dome Patrol” defenses who later ended his playing career with the Carolina Panthers, where he started his coaching career. Both franchises pay him tribute and are represented in his commemorative locker at the Hall of Fame.
But maybe the most touching dedication came from Mills’ son Marcus, who shared a letter written to his late father on behalf of their friends and family, embodying the legacy that Mills has left behind. See it for yourself:
Dear Dad: A letter to Saints legend Sam Mills from his son Marcus 🙏@ProFootballHOF | #PFHOF22 pic.twitter.com/vETnHw94Iu
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 6, 2022
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Congratulations to Panthers icon Sam Mills and the Mills family for his rightful induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Just in case you didn’t know why the Carolina Panthers keep pounding, you found out on Saturday.
The unique, inspiring and beautiful legacy of franchise icon Sam Mills—after 20 long years—was finally immortalized in Canton, Ohio this afternoon. He is now officially the third Panther, joining fellow defenders Reggie White and Kevin Greene, to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mills began his pro football career on what would later prove to be a quite fitting note. After a standout four-year stay at Montclair State University, the 5-foot-9 linebacker was cut loose by the NFL’s Cleveland Browns in 1981 and the USFL’s Toronto Argonauts in 1982—without playing a snap for either organization.
He’d then stick on with Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars for the next three years—racking up three All-USFL selections, two USFL championships and, ultimately, a spot on the USFL All-Time Team.
Jim Mora and the New Orleans Saints took notice, as the head coach brought Mills over into the NFL from their stint with the Stars. There, he’d collect four Pro Bowl and two All-Pro selections from 1986 to 1994.
His next chapter, of course, took him to Charlotte—where he signed on with the Carolina Panthers. Amongst his three sparkling seasons in the black and blue, Mills notched yet another Pro Bowl appearance and a First-team All-Pro nod as a 37-year-old in 1996.
Upon retiring following the 1997 campaign, he transitioned to the sidelines as a defensive assistant and linebackers coach for Carolina. His famous “Keep Pounding” speech at halftime of the Panthers’ 2004 playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys helped push the team to its first Super Bowl appearance and is now solidified as the franchise’s mantra.
Mills was inducted by his mentor in Mora and his wife Melanie, who delivered a graceful speech on behalf of her family and her now enshrined husband.
The moment.#KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/6M7UYFnV0g
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 6, 2022
A leader that kept pounding. pic.twitter.com/ketF5QXq2O
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 6, 2022
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Melanie Mills delivered a touching message as her late husband Sam Mills was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Class of 2022 is being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, and one of the new members is the late Sam Mills. The linebacker, who starred on both the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints, passed away in 2005 after fighting intestinal cancer.
It was his plea to “keep pounding,” given to the Panthers in a pre-game speech while serving as a coach in Carolina, that grew into not just an official team slogan, but also the name of a fund for cancer research.
During Mills’ induction ceremony, his wife Melanie Mills drew upon the slogan:
"#KeepPounding everyone, that's what Sam would want you to do."
Melanie Mills with a touching tribute to her late husband, Sam Mills.
📺: #PFHOF22 Enshrinement on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/yYMyLGqQ9p
— NFL (@NFL) August 6, 2022
Who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame today, and how can you watch the ceremonies? We have the answers.
At 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 6, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will have its annual ceremony celebrating a new class of enshrines.
From ESPN, who will televise the event:
ESPN’s coverage of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement returns for the 27th year on Saturday, Aug. 6, as eight enshrines officially enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Coverage of the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class begins at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN, a new afternoon time for the annual event. ESPN Radio will also offer live coverage of the event.
The class of 2022 consists of eight “Heroes of the Game:” Tony Boselli (Jacksonville Jaguars), Cliff Branch (Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders), Leroy Butler (Green Bay Packers), Art McNally (National Football League Official), Sam Mills (New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers), Richard Seymour (New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders), Dick Vermeil (Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs) and Bryant Young (San Francisco 49ers).
Live from Canton, Ohio, ESPN’s 26-year veteran host Suzy Kolber will anchor the Enshrinement Ceremony with ESPN’s NFL front office insider Louis Riddick and 2016 Dick McCann Award winner Chris Mortensen. For the 22nd year, ESPN’s Chris Berman, who was honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2010, will emcee the ceremony.
ESPN Radio will also broadcast the enshrinees’ speeches and share insights from special guests throughout the day on Saturday. On the ground in Canton, Jaguars’ reporter, Mike DiRocco will be covering all festivities around the induction ceremonies on behalf of NFL Nation.
(All enshrinee information courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame).
Here’s how to tune in to Saturday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction of Carolina Panthers legend Sam Mills.
A day 20 years in the making, the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony of Carolina Panthers icon Sam Mills is finally here.
The five-time Pro Bowler, one-time All-Pro and eternal source of inspiration is set for immortalization into Canton, Ohio. Alongside the likes of fellow legends Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Richard Seymour, Bryant Young, Cliff Branch, Art McNally and Dick Vermeil—Mills will be enshrined early this afternoon.
So, how can you take it all in? Here’s how you can catch one of most momentous days in Panthers franchise history:
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Darin Gantt of Panthers.com gave us an early look at exactly where Sam Mills’ legacy will live on in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
On Saturday afternoon, Carolina Panthers icon Sam Mills will finally take his spot in the hallowed halls of Canton, Ohio. So, what will that spot look like?
Darin Gantt of Panthers.com gave everybody an early look this morning. About 24 hours before the legendary linebacker is officially welcomed in to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the longtime Charlotte scribe—who has also been a driving and influential voice behind the much-deserved and long-awaited induction—was there with some beautiful shots.
Sam Mills’ locker in the @ProFootballHOF, with the original Keep Pounding wristband. pic.twitter.com/Pr400H8XBk
— Darin Gantt (@daringantt) August 5, 2022
And here’s the spot where his bust will live.
When the busts talk to each other at night, Sam Mills and Peyton Manning can argue about Jim Mora’s claim that Sam was the greatest player he ever coached. pic.twitter.com/eHEyMgL55Y
— Darin Gantt (@daringantt) August 5, 2022
Marcus Mills, getting a look at where his father’ bust will be placed at the @ProFootballHOF pic.twitter.com/rQXQ2TOf0D
— Darin Gantt (@daringantt) August 5, 2022
Although division rivals on the field, the Panthers and Saints will have no issues sharing a space inside Mills’ locker and, now, immortalized legacy. Of his 12-year NFL career, the five-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro spent nine of those campaigns in New Orleans and the final three in Carolina.
Mills will move into his new home alongside Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Richard Seymour, Bryant Young, Cliff Branch, Art McNally and Dick Vermeil. The ceremony, hosted by actor Keegan Michael-Key, will begin at noon—with Mills set as the second inductee of the event.
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How Saints fans can watch Sam Mills’ Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony, and the Raiders-Jaguars Hall of Fame Game:
The legendary Sam Mills will be enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame this Saturday, putting a bronze bust in his image alongside his old New Orleans Saints “Dome Patrol” teammate Rickey Jackson for years to come. Mills died of cancer in 2005 and will be represented by his family at the enshrinement ceremony, and he’s remembered well by all who knew him. Another old friend and Hall of Famer, former Saints left tackle Willie Roaf, spoke of the recognition he’s pleased to see Mills receive upon his election back in February.
It’s going to be an emotional moment for the Mills family and their supporters, who have spent decades working to get him into the Hall of Fame. Now those efforts have come to fruition. Here’s how you can tune in:
And here’s what you need to know about Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game, which will be played to commemorate the occasion in front of a national audience:
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