CAROLINA PANTHERS
2025 Record - 8-9-0
Head Coach - Dave Canales
2025 Offensive Rank - 296 YPG (27th); Rushing - 117 YPG (19th), Passing - 179 YPG (26th) SCORING - 18.3 PPG (27th)
2025 Defensive Rank - 327 YPG (16th); Rushing - 123 YPG (20th), Passing - 204 YPG (15th) SCORING - 22.4 PPG (15th)
Key Player Additions - Jaelan Phillips (LB), Devin Lloyd (LB), Stone Forsyth (OL), A.J. Dillon (RB), Luke Fortner (OL), Kenny Pickett (QB), Haynes King (QB), John Metchie III (WR), Rasheed Walker (OL)
Key Player Losses - Cade Mays (OL), Rico Dowdle (RB), A'Shawn Robinson (DL), D.J. Wonnum (LB), Christian Rozeboom (LB), Austin Corbett (OL), Andy Dalton (QB), Yosh Nijman (OL)
OFFENSE - Bryce Young is entering his fourth season at quarterback and he finished with 3,011 passing yards along with 23 touchdowns and eleven interceptions in 2025. Young also rushed for 216 yards (4.0 YPC) and scored two times. Kenny Pickett and Haynes King will likely be the backups this season. The running game will be led by Chuba Hubbard (511 yards, 3.8 YPC, one TD) after Rico Dowdle left in free agency. A.J. Dillon and Trevor Etienne are also on hand. The wide receivers are Tetairoa McMillan (70 receptions, 1,014 yards, seven TD), Jalen Coker (33, 394, three TD), Xavier Legette (35, 363, three TD) and rookie Chris Brazzell II (Tennessee). The tight ends are Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans.
DEFENSE - Bobby Brown III, Derrick Brown and Turk Wharton man the front line and the linebackers are Devin Lloyd (74 tackles, five interceptions with Jacksonville), Jaelan Phillips (five sacks totaled with Philadelphia and Miami in 2025), Nic Scourton and Trevin Wallace. In the secondary is safety Nick Scott (109 tackles) along with Tre'von Moehrig, Jr. (103 tackles) and cornerbacks Jaycee Horn, who had five interceptions and also Mike Jackson, who had four picks last season. Robert Rochell, rookie Zakee Wheatley (Penn State) and Lathan Ransom add depth. The Panthers totaled 15 interceptions and 30 sacks a year ago and the defense finished in the middle of the pack while allowing 22.4 points per game.
2026 SEASON OUTLOOK - The Panthers surprised many by making the playoffs last season, although they won the NFC South division with a losing record. But they battled the L.A. Rams tough in the wild card round, losing 34-31 on their home field. Head Coach Dave Canales would like to see the team improve on that performance in what could be the most competitive division in the NFL.
If Young continues to make strides at quarterback and the running game can show improvement, the offense should be better than last year, where the Panthers ranked 27th overall and averaged just 18.3 points per game. Turnovers must be managed as well where the team was minus-2 in that area. The defense was decent enough to keep the team in games and only twice all season allowed over 30 points in a game. Playing in the NFC South sees Atlanta, New Orleans and Tampa Bay in the mix and three teams all finished 8-9 while the New Orleans Saints were just two games behind. There wasn't a lot of player turnover on the roster, so the Panthers should be able to get things going early on this year. They will not be sneaking up on opponents this time, so they better be ready to pick up where they left off last season because it will likely take more than eight wins to make the playoffs.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. Chicago
Week Two - at Atlanta
Week Three - at Cleveland
Week Four - vs. Detroit
Week Five - BYE
Week Six - at Philadelphia
Week Seven - vs. Tampa Bay
Week Eight - at Green Bay
Week Nine - vs. Denver
Week Ten - at New Orleans
Week Eleven - vs. Baltimore
Week Twelve - at Tampa Bay
Week Thirteen - at Minnesota
Week Fourteen - vs. New Orleans
Week Fifteen - vs. Cincinnati
Week Sixteen - at Pittsburgh
Week Seventeen - vs. Seattle
Week Eighteen - vs. Atlanta
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