Carolina Panthers Team History

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On October 26, 1993, NFL owners unanimously selected Carolina as the 29th NFL franchise and the first expansion team since 1976. Fireworks exploded over uptown Charlotte as jubilant fans gathered to celebrate the news that the NFL was coming to Carolina. "This is a dream come true for me and my partners and for the 10 million people in the Carolinas," said Carolina Panthers Owner/Founder Jerry Richardson, who became just the second former player to own an NFL team along with George Halas of the Chicago Bears. Team owner Jerry Richardson�s son Mark is responsible for the selection of Panthers as the team name. Mark, who felt that there should be some "synergy" between the name and the team colors also suggested the team colors of black, blue and silver.

Carolina Panthers Chronological History

1987

December 15, 1987, entrepeneur Jerry Richardson announced his bid for an NFL expansion franchise in the Carolinas.[6] A native of North Carolina, Richardson was a former wide receiver on the Baltimore Colts who had used his 1958 league championship bonus to co-found the Hardee's chain of restaurants and served as president and CEO of TW Services.

1993

Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is granted the first NFL expansion franchise since 1976. Former Steelers assistant coach signs on as the Panthers first head coach.

1995

Although they lost the first 5 games of the season, the Pathers find their pace and win 7 of the next 11 games. One of these wins is against the San Francisco 49ers, making the Panthers the first expansion team to ever beat a defending league champion.

1996

Amazingly, the Panthers win 12 games and their division, qualifying them for the playoffs. It's the first time an NFL expansion team has encountered such immediate success. Sadly the Panthers lost the Super Bowl to the Green Bay Packers.

2001

The Panthers set an NFL record by losing 15 consecutive games.

2003

With new coach John Fox at the helm, the Panthers turned around their bad luck and posted an 11-5 winning record. They not only qualified for the playoffs but also won the NFC's South Division.

2004

During the Super Bowl the Panthers tied up the game but suffered a field goal by the New England Patriots in the last four seconds of the game making it one of the most dramatic Super Bowl losses in NFL history.

2005

After losing to the Cowboys in the season's penultimate game, the Panthers needed a victory to secure a spot in the 2005 playoffs. They responded with a dominating New Years Day performance at the Georgia Dome, a 44-11 victory over the Falcons, making the score the largest margin of victory in franchise history.

2008

The Panthers finished with a 12-4 regular season record, winning the NFC South and securing a first-round bye. However, they were eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs, losing 33-13 to the Arizona Cardinals

2013

The Panthers would have a strong season with a 12-4 record and winning their third NFC South title. Unfortunately their season ended with a loss 23-10 to the 49ers in the divisional game.

Carolina Panthers Franchise Information

Franchise Granted: 1995
First Season: 1995
Franchise History:
1995 - Present Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are legally registered as Panthers Football, LLC. The Pathers are headquartered in Bank of America Stadium, located in uptown Charlotte. Their stadium also serves as the team's home field, making the Panthers one of the few teams in the NFL to own the stadium they play in, which is legally registered as Panthers Stadium, LLC. The Panthers are supported throughout the Carolinas; although the team has played their home games in Charlotte since the completion of their stadium in 1996, they played home games in Clemson, South Carolina, during their first season, and they host their annual training camp in Spartanburg, South Carolina. At home games, the atmosphere has been described as comparable to that of other NFL teams, with some games playing host to a large number of fans of the opposing team; this has been attributed to several factors, such as the city's relatively recent entry into the NFL, the popularity of basketball in the Charlotte region, and the large number of Charlotte residents who are originally from other cities with NFL teams. The Panthers' uniforms consist of black, white, and blue jerseys paired with white and silver pants, a pattern which has only seen minor changes since the team's inception. The team maintains rivalries with the three other teams in the NFC South, in addition to having out-of-division rivalries with the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys.

Carolina Panthers - Stadium

Bank of America Stadium

800 South Mint Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
Capacity: 73,778
Surface: Natural Grass
Cost: 369 Million
Tenants:
Carolina Panthers (NFL) (1996-present)
Belk Bowl (NCAA) (2002-present)
ACC Championship Game (2010-present)

Previous Stadiums

Carolinas Stadium (planning)
Ericsson Stadium (1996-2004)
Memorial Stadium (1995)

League Championships

None

Conference Championships

2003 (NFC)

Division Championships

1996 (NFL West), 2003 (NFL South)

Wild Card Wins

2003 (NFL South), 2005 (NFL South)

Years in Playoffs

1996, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2013

Carolina Panthers

Coaches

Ron Rivera

2011 -

John Fox

2002 - 2010

George Seifert

1999 - 2001

Dom Capers

1995 - 1998

Retired Numbers

#51 Sam Mills

Hall of Fame Members

None