The Carolina Panthers haven’t had their best seasons as of late, and it’s unclear if any of the current players will cement their places in Panthers’ history. Before the upcoming 2024 season, it’s important to highlight the five best Panthers that came before, ones who will never be forgotten by the franchise.
Five Best Panthers Players
5. Cam Newton
Quarterback Newton came onto the NFL scene in 2011 after being the Panthers’ number one draft pick. In his only season at Auburn, Newton recorded 30 touchdowns and 2,854 yards. On top of that, he rushed for 1,473 yards for Auburn in 2010.
Newton soon became a Panthers fan favorite with his big personality and booming statistics. In his first season, he threw for a career-high 4,051 yards on 310 completions. He also added 21 throwing touchdowns and 14 rushing touchdowns.
In 2016, Newton led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50. Despite the loss, Newton threw for 265 yards and only one interception. Newton had a brief stint with the Patriots in 2020, before re-joining the Panthers for one final hurrah.
4. Sam Mills
Mills spent three seasons with the Panthers after a long career with the New Orleans Saints. Mills came to the Panthers in their inaugural season in 1995 and performed outstandingly for the new team.
Mills became known for his performance in their first-ever win after he had an interception returned for a touchdown. Another of his highlights came from his interception against the Dallas Cowboys, which allowed the Panthers to win the NFC divisional playoff game.
Overall, Mills had seven interceptions for the Panthers along with six fumbles forced. Mills was a fantastic tackler for the team, helping them become a dominant defense. He also appeared in the 1996 Pro Bowl representing the Panthers.
After his career with the Panthers, the team inducted him into their own Hall of Honor. From there, Mills stayed with the Panthers as an assistant for seven seasons. Mills coined the phrase “Keep Pounding” which has become the team motto. He was selected to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022, 17 years after losing his battle with cancer.
3. Luke Kuechly
Kuechly played his entire NFL career for the Panthers, showing the loyalty that he had for the franchise that made him a fan favorite. The linebacker played for the Panthers from 2012-2019, before calling it quits to raise awareness for brain injuries.
Kuechly played in 118 games and recorded over 1,000 total tackles. He had 690 solo tackles, which highlights his strength and defensive presence. He racked up eighteen fumble recoveries and 18 interceptions.
Throughout his time in the NFL, he was selected for 7 Pro Bowls. He also won Defensive Rookie of the Year and a Defensive Player of the Year award. This year, Kuechly is eligible to be selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2. Julius Peppers
The Panthers defensive end enjoyed his first stint at the Panthers from 2002-2009, before coming back to retire with them after two more seasons from 2017-2018. Peppers also played for the Bears and the Packers but most of his career was with the Panthers.
In his rookie season, Peppers recorded an incredible 12 sacks. In his second season, he started all 16 games and helped lead the Panthers to a spot in Super Bowl 38. The following two seasons saw Peppers earn successive starting spots in the Pro Bowl.
While at the Panthers, Peppers won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2002 and was also selected for five Pro Bowls during his time with the team. Peppers is known for his interceptions and forced fumbles while at the Panthers.
1. Steve Smith Sr.
The Panthers drafted Smith in 2001 as a third-round pick. Although he had a low production volume in his rookie season, Smith quickly became an ideal receiver for the team. In his second season, he caught 54 receptions for 872 yards and three touchdowns. The 2003 season saw Smith with over 1,000 yards, which was his first of six seasons of 1,000+ yards for the Panthers.
Smith also worked as a punt and kickoff returner. He accumulated four touchdowns on punt returns and two touchdowns for kickoff returns. In his rookie season, Smith recorded 1,431 yards on kickoff returns, and his longest return was for 99.
His time at Carolina spanned from 2001 to 2013 before he moved to the Baltimore Ravens for three seasons. Smith has been the Panther’s best receiver and returner. He holds the record for most receiving yards with 12,197, receiving touchdowns with 67, and total touchdowns at 75.
Smith is a five-time Pro Bowler, showing off his incredible statistics throughout each of his seasons. He became known for his clutch plays for the Panthers. In 2003, he caught a pass for 69 yards and a touchdown, which signaled a walk-off win in the divisional round of the playoffs in double overtime. Smith showed fierceness and determination during his career.
Panthers Of The Future
With players like Smith Sr. and Peppers, the Panthers haven’t been short of talent. The franchise will hope that some of their younger players will be able to make their marks in the history books next. Can quarterback Bryce Young channel his inner Cam Newton and create more memories for the team?
Main Image: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
