The Carolina Panthers were awarded an NFL franchise on October 26, 1993, making them the 29th team in the league.¹⁾

The Panthers played their inaugural season in 1995.²⁾

In just their second season (1996), the Panthers made the playoffs and advanced to the NFC Championship Game.³⁾

They compete in the NFC South, alongside the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.⁴⁾

Hedge fund manager David Tepper bought the Panthers in 2018 for a then-record $2.275 billion.⁵⁾

Their home field is Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, which they’ve called home since it opened in 1996.⁶⁾

Bank of America Stadium was built without public funding, unique for an NFL stadium at the time.⁷⁾

Fans start chanting “Keep Pounding” before each game, a phrase that has become synonymous with the team.⁸⁾

This motto comes from former player and coach Sam Mills' 2003 motivational speech. Mills was battling cancer but urged his teammates to “keep pounding.“⁹⁾

Sam Mills’ No. 51 jersey is retired, and a statue of him stands outside Bank of America Stadium.¹⁰⁾

The Panthers have been to the Super Bowl twice, in 2003 (Super Bowl XXXVIII) and 2015 (Super Bowl 50).¹¹⁾

Both Super Bowl appearances ended in losses. They lost to the New England Patriots in 2003 and to the Denver Broncos in 2015.¹²⁾

. In 2015, the Panthers had their best regular-season record, finishing 15-1.¹³⁾

One of the most beloved Panthers players, Smith was a fiery wide receiver known for his competitive spirit and incredible plays.¹⁴⁾

Kuechly, the Panthers' star linebacker, was known for his outstanding football IQ and was a seven-time Pro Bowler before his retirement in 2020.¹⁵⁾

Cam Newton, their franchise quarterback for years, was known for his Superman-inspired touchdown celebration.¹⁶⁾

The Panthers' first-ever regular-season game was on September 3, 1995, a 23-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.¹⁷⁾

The Panthers earned their first win in Week 5 of 1995, beating the New York Jets 26-15.¹⁸⁾

The Panthers’ team colors are black, silver, and “Panther blue,” which symbolizes the sky over the Carolinas.¹⁹⁾

The team's logo is a panther head in the shape of North and South Carolina combined.²⁰⁾

The Panthers have made the playoffs eight times as of 2023.²¹⁾

The Panthers’ 2003 team set a franchise record for points allowed per game, helping them reach the Super Bowl that year.²²⁾

Tight end Greg Olsen became the first tight end in NFL history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 2014 to 2016.²³⁾

The Panthers' mascot is “Sir Purr,” a friendly black panther who entertains fans at home games.²⁴⁾

The Panthers have fierce rivalries with all NFC South teams, especially the Falcons and the Saints.²⁵⁾

The Panthers and NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes both rep the Carolinas but have never played in the same city.²⁶⁾

Six larger-than-life panther statues guard the entrances to Bank of America Stadium, each weighing about 2,000 pounds.²⁷⁾

Sam Mills was the Panthers' first player to make the Pro Bowl in 1996.²⁸⁾

In 2013, the Panthers came back from a 14-point deficit against the Saints to win the game, securing their playoff berth.²⁹⁾

Quarterback Jake Delhomme led the Panthers to their first Super Bowl appearance in 2003.³⁰⁾

In 1995, the Panthers set a record by selling 41,632 season tickets in less than a month.³¹⁾

The Panthers market themselves as the team for both North and South Carolina.³²⁾

Mick Mixon was the longtime voice of the Panthers until 2021, known for his colorful commentary.³³⁾

In 2015, Cam Newton became the first Panthers player to win the NFL MVP Award.³⁴⁾

In 2019, Christian McCaffrey became only the third NFL player to tally 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.³⁵⁾

The Panthers' largest comeback was 17 points down against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018.³⁶⁾

Bojangles’ was a major partner for the Panthers for years, with a big presence at Bank of America Stadium.³⁷⁾

After every Panthers’ home victory, the stadium lights up with Carolina blue fireworks.³⁸⁾

The Panthers played their first international game in 2019, a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in London.³⁹⁾

Steve Smith was known for his legendary trash talk, even calling himself “Ice Up, Son.”⁴⁰⁾

The Panthers scored a franchise-record 52 points against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2002.⁴¹⁾

At one point, there were over 60,000 fans on the waitlist for season tickets.⁴²⁾

The Panthers’ first-ever draft pick was quarterback Kerry Collins in 1995.⁴³⁾

Panthers historically draft a lot of players from nearby Clemson University and the University of North Carolina.⁴⁴⁾

Kicker John Kasay holds the record as the Panthers' all-time leading scorer, with over 1,482 points.⁴⁵⁾