Tag: Sam Mills

Panthers announce ‘Keep Pounding Game’ to honor Sam Mills

On Saturday, the Panthers announced they’ll host a “Keep Pounding Game” in honor of soon-to-be Pro Football Hall of Famer Sam Mills.

It may have taken a bit too long, but Carolina Panthers icon Sam Mills is finally getting his due among the game’s greats, and the love won’t be limited to Canton, Ohio.

On Saturday, the organization announced it’ll host a “Keep Pounding Game” this season in honor of the legendary linebacker. The dedication will come in Week 4, when the Panthers host the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 2.

The family and a number of former teammates of Mills, who died in 2005, will be on hand for the event, as will representatives from the Hall. Additionally, his long-awaited bust will be unveiled at halftime.

Mills, of course, was finally selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame back on Feb. 10, in his 20th and final year of eligibility as part of the modern-era pool. He will be enshrined on Aug. 6 alongside Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Richard Seymour, Bryant Young, Cliff Branch, Art McNally and Dick Vermeil.

On a side note, the Panthers have won six straight games against the Cardinals. So there’s a decent chance this special afternoon could end on a special note.

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Panthers great Steve Smith Sr. shares touching tribute to Sam Mills

As only he could, Panthers great Steve Smith Sr. paid tribute to the player, the coach and the man that Sam Mills was.

Carolina Panthers legend and soon-to-be Pro Football Hall of Famer Sam Mills has touched so many lives—even the ones that are a bit rough around the edges.

That includes fellow franchise great Steve Smith Sr., who took a few minutes to speak on Mills’ long overdue election to Canton on Friday’s NFL Total Access. But, as you’ll see, the impact Mills had on those around him resulted in Smith not only talking about him from the standpoint of an analyst, but also from the standpoint of a friend.

Smith, who was drafted by the Panthers in 2001, began his career with the organization while Mills was serving as the team’s linebackers coach. For four seasons, the wideout was lucky enough to experience the inspirational man and story behind the legacy of No. 51.

His experience included Carolina’s run to Super Bowl XXXVIII, where Mills delivered his famous “Keep Pounding” speech prior to the Wild Card Round victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

And surely, with just a little more time, Smith will be joining his old pal once again with a spot of his own in those hallowed halls of Ohio.

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Washington defensive line coach’s father selected for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Sam Mills was selected for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Thursday night.

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Former New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers linebacker Sam Mills was one of eight former players and coaches selected for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Thursday.

Joining Mills is Dick Vermeil, LeRoy Butler, Bryant Young, Richard Seymour, Art McNally, Cliff Branch and Tony Boselli in the class of 2022.

For younger fans, you may recognize Mills’ name from Washington. His son, Sam Mills III, is Washington’s defensive line coach, following head coach Ron Rivera over from Carolina.

Mills is one of the greatest success stories in NFL history. The 5-foot-9 linebacker from Montclair State went undrafted in 1981 before signing as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns. Mills would be released at the end of training camp.

From there, he went to the CFL, signing with the Toronto Argonauts. He was released before the season. He spent the next three seasons with the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars of the USFL. Mills made such an impression during his USFL days that the New Orleans Saints signed him ahead of the 1986 season.

In New Orleans, Mills played nine seasons before playing for the Panthers during the final three years of his career. Over a 12-year career, Mills finished 1,319 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 11 interceptions and four touchdowns.

Here are some of his accolades:

  • First-team All-Pro (1996)
  • Second-team All-Pro (1991, 1992)
  • Five-time Pro Bowl selection
  • Three-time All-USFL selection
  • Two-time USFL champion
  • Jersey No. 51 retired by Panthers
  • Member of Panthers Hall of Honor
  • Member of Saints Hall of Fame
  • Member of Saints Ring of Honor
  • Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
  • Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey

After his playing career, Mills immediately went into coaching, spending seven seasons with Carolina, the final six as linebackers coach.

Sadly, Mills was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2003 and was only given months to live. Despite that diagnosis, he continued to coach, inspiring his Panthers and all of the NFL. He was the inspiration behind Carolina’s first Super Bowl appearance in 2003.

Before a playoff game in 2003, Mills gave a famous speech where he said he could “quit or keep pounding” after his cancer diagnosis. That “keep pounding” motto has been with the team ever since, as a select individual or group is chosen to bang the “Keep Pounding” drum before the game.

Mills sadly died in 2005. A statue of Mills is outside of Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Congratulations to the Mills family. Sam Mills was long-deserving of this honor, and perhaps it will open the door for former Washington linebacker London Fletcher in the near future.

Best of the Panthers at 2022 NFL Honors

From Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee DJ Moore to the heart, spirit and soul of Sam Mills—the Panthers were well-represented at this year’s NFL Honors.

The Carolina Panthers didn’t leave us much to honor this past season. But even so, on a night where the NFL recognized the very best its game had to offer in 2021, the franchise itself was honored to be represented by two special men.

Here’s the best of Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee DJ Moore and the lasting legacy of new Pro Football Hall of Famer Sam Mills (as well as a few other familiar faces) from Thursday’s celebration.

Panthers react to Sam Mills’ Hall of Fame election

The Carolina Panthers family came out strong to celebrate the legacy of Sam Mills and his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday night.

In his 20th and final year of eligibility, linebacking legend Sam Mills was finally elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And, needless to say, the Carolina Panthers family was elated over the well-deserved, long-awaited announcement.

Sam Mills, LeRoy Butler, Richard Seymour, Cliff Branch, Tony Boselli among 2022 Hall of Fame inductees

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2022, with eight new members to be inducted in Canton.

On Thursday night, during the NFL Honors awards show, we found out which players, coaches, and executives would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the 2022 class.

Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Art McNally, Richard Seymour, Dick Vermeil, and  Bryant Young learned of their election when a Hall of Famer knocked on their door in late January. Those encounters can be seen Saturday when NFL Network airs a one-hour special, beginning at 9 p.m. ET. The families of the late Cliff Branch and Sam Mills received the news in a phone call from Hall of Fame President Jim Porter.

“Each member of this great class represents the values of the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Porter said. “We look forward to honoring them in August.”

The annual selection meeting capped a year-round selection process. The newly elected Hall of Famers were chosen from a list of 18 Finalists who had been determined earlier by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee. Representatives of the accounting firm EY tabulated all votes during the virtual meeting.

The Coach, Contributor and Senior Finalists were voted “yes” or “no” for election at the annual selection meeting and needed at least 80% support from the Committee to be elected. The Modern-Era Finalists were trimmed during the meeting from 15 to 10, then from 10 to five. They, too, had to receive the same 80% positive vote as the Coach, Contributor and Senior Finalists when they were voted “yes” or “no” to earn election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame’s membership, including the newly elected Class of 2022, now stands at 362.

The Class of 2022 will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 6 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

(Bios courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Saints legend Sam Mills inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Finally: Saints legend Sam Mills has been inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

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This is huge: legendary New Orleans Saints linebacker Sam Mills was selected for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame during his final year of eligibility as a modern-era candidate, joining his all-time great teammate Rickey Jackson among the best to ever do it. And Jackson had the honor of announcing that Mills will be enshrined as part of the Class of 2022.

It’s just such a shame that the Mills family had to wait so long for this. A “Dome Patrol” icon, Mills died of cancer in 2005 and left a tremendous legacy behind. Between his impressive play across nine years in New Orleans and his efforts in getting the expansion-team Carolina Panthers off the ground, Mills remains a beloved figure in two rival fanbases. Not many players have ever been able to pull that off.

And now he’ll be enshrined forever alongside other Saints greats like Jackson, Morten Andersen, and Willie Roaf. In just a few years, their number should grow with Drew Brees getting into the Hall of Fame — and maybe Sean Payton winds up there sooner or later, too.

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Panthers legend Sam Mills named to Pro Football Hall of Fame

The legacy of Carolina Panthers legend Sam Mills kept pounding all the way to Canton as part of 2022’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Carolina Panthers legend Sam Mills took the lengthiest of roads to Canton, Ohio. So perhaps its only fitting that his long-awaited, well-deserved induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame was one that just kept on pounding.

On Thursday night, Mills was named as part of the hall’s incoming 2022 class. This was, as he’d been on the ballot since 2003, his 20th and final year of eligibility.

Mills played 17 professional seasons of football between the NFL, CFL and USFL. He spent three of those campaigns with Carolina, where he earned one of his five Pro Bowl nods and lone First-team All-Pro distinction in 1996.

Of all his on-field accomplishments, no moment for Mills shined brighter than his “Keep Pounding” speech. As a linebackers coach in 2003, the cancer-stricken Mills rallied the Panthers with an emotional message prior to the team’s wild-card victory over the Dallas Cowboys in their magical run to Super Bowl XXXVIII.

“Keep Pounding” has remained the mantra for the organization, continuing to inspire coaches, players and fans alike. Mills—who has also been immortalized in the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor and the New Orleans Saints Ring of Honor—died of intestinal cancer in 2005 at the age of 45.

Alas, his legacy will keep living on.

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Steve Smith Sr. congratulates Sam Mills on being named Hall of Fame finalist

Panthers great Steve Smith showed some love for 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist Sam Mills, who he called the “greatest Panther to ever wear the jersey.”

Carolina Panthers all-time leading receiver Steve Smith Sr. was in the company of Sam Mills during the most celebrated moment of his storied football career. And even though he wasn’t in the same company with his fellow franchise legend for another red-letter day, Smith was still there to congratulate him.

On Thursday night, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 15 modern-era finalists for its 2022 class. Among them was the former Panthers linebacker in Mills, who is in his final year of eligibility for a bust in Canton. Not among them, surprisingly and unfortunately, was Smith—who paid tribute to one of his former coaches.

 

Although Mills played just three of his 12 professional seasons with the Panthers, his impact on the organization will last for multiple lifetimes. His famous “Keep Pounding” speech during the team’s 2003 run to Super Bowl XXXVIII—a journey Smith was apart of in his third season—has become the beloved mantra for the franchise.

So, whether he’s bronzed in Ohio or not, Mills will always be golden in Carolina. The same goes for Smith, who will assuredly get another shot at winding up where he also belongs.

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Panthers legend Sam Mills named 2022 finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Panthers icon Sam Mills, in his last year of eligibility, was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2022 class. Steve Smith Sr., however, was not.

On Thursday night, the Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed its 15 modern-era finalists for the 2022 class. Among them was a Carolina Panthers icon whose presence in that building is, perhaps, long overdue.

That man was linebacker Sam Mills, whose candidacy for immortalization into Canton, Ohio is on its final try. Mills spent three of his 15 professional seasons in Carolina, where he totaled 331 tackles, 10.0 sacks, seven interceptions and six forced fumbles.

His list of NFL accolades is a notable one—with five Pro Bowl selections, three All-Pro nods and spots in both the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor and the New Orleans Saints Ring of Honor. Mills’ lasting legacy rests in his “Keep Pounding” cry, in which he rallied the 2003 Panthers team with an emotional speech during their run to Super Bowl XXXVIII.

“Keep Pounding” has remained the mantra for the organization, continuing to inspire coaches, players and fans alike. Mills died of intestinal cancer in 2005 at the age of 45.

In a bit of a surprise, however, the franchise’s all-time leading receiver and the league’s eighth all-time leading receiver Steve Smith Sr. did not make the cut in his first year up for the vote.

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