The Carolina Panthers announced on Thursday morning that they will soon add two new names to their Hall of Honor. The Hall of Honor is a version of the Hall of Fame, specific to Carolina legends. The current names included are Steve Smith Sr., Mike McCormack, Sam Mills, Jordan Gross, Wesley Walls and Jake Delhomme.
The most recent induction ceremony was on Oct. 6, 2019, when Smith Sr., Gross, Walls and Delhomme were added. Despite what the fans would like to see, Cam Newton is ineligible due to still being an active player. Regardless, there are plenty of former Panthers who have earned their rightful place in Carolina’s history, but which two will it be?
Julius Peppers
Julius Peppers stands out as the most obvious choice for the Hall of Honor. He was selected by the Panthers with the 2nd overall pick of the 2002 Draft and immediately made an impact. Peppers earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after an astounding 12 sacks in his rookie season.
He remained dominant through his first stint in Carolina, posting double-digit sack numbers in six out of eight years. In 2010, Peppers signed with the Chicago Bears in free agency. He spent four years there before joining their division rival, the Green Bay Packers.
After three years in Green Bay, he made his return to Carolina, signing a one-year deal with the Panthers. He quickly returned to form, recording 11 sacks despite starting only five games. Afterwards, he played one more year, retiring after the 2018 season. He finished his career with 159.5 sacks, nine Pro Bowl selections, and three All-Pro selections.
Luke Kuechly
Luke Kuechly was drafted 9th overall by the Panthers in the 2012 Draft. The Boston College product immediately won over the fan base, putting forth a dominant rookie season. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, and followed it up by winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.
The standout linebacker was named to the Pro Bowl every year after his rookie season, and was a five time All-Pro selection. He shocked the football world when he announced his retirement after the 2019 season due to injury-based health concerns. He still cemented himself as a Panthers legend, ending his career with 1,092 tackles, the second most in Panthers history.Â
Thomas Davis Sr.
The only man who recorded more tackles than Kuechly in a Panthers uniform was Thomas Davis. The Panthers took the linebacker with the 14th pick of the 2005 Draft. He would spend the next 14 years in Carolina as the vocal leader of the defense.
Davis bounced back from an ACL tear suffered in 2010 and became a dominant force on the Carolina defense. He racked up 1,098 tackles and 28 sacks in his time as a Panther, and even earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections.
He was chosen for his first and only All-Pro team in 2015, one year after being named the 2014 Walter Payton Man of the Year. After brief stints with the Chargers and the Washington Football Team, Davis signed a one-day contract to retire as a Panther in 2021.
Greg Olsen
In 2011, after four years with the Bears, Greg Olsen was traded to the Panthers in exchange for a third-round pick. Safe to say the Panthers made the right move, as Olsen was the starting tight end in Carolina for the next nine years.
He was named to three Pro Bowls, and was Cam Newton’s go-to guy season after season. He racked up 39 touchdowns and 6,463 yards on 524 catches as a Panther.
After a year in Seattle, he also signed a one-day contract in 2021, retiring as a Panther alongside Davis. Ever since his retirement, Olsen has served as a sportscaster for Fox Sports.
Muhsin Muhammad
Dating back slightly farther, Muhsin Muhammad made his name as a standout wide receiver for the Panthers. They drafted him with the 43rd overall pick in 1996, and he broke out in 1998 after two quiet seasons.
Once Steve Smith Sr. was drafted in 2001, the two formed a deadly wide receiver duo. They shined as the Panthers made it all the way to their first Super Bowl in 2004, narrowly losing to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
After the Super Bowl loss, Muhammad did what all Panthers legends seem to do and spent a few years with the Bears. He returned to the Panthers in 2008, spending two more years alongside Smith Sr. before his retirement.
Muhammad ended his Panthers career with 9,255 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns on 696 catches. He was named to the Pro Bowl twice, and was chosen for the All-Pro First Team in the unforgettable 2004 season. A selection to the Hall of Honor would put Muhammad alongside Smith Sr. once more.Â
John Kasay
Lesser-known by the average fan, John Kasay is a name to watch out for in the selection process. Kasay served as the Panthers kicker from 1995 to 2010, appearing in over 220 games. In his time in Carolina he hit 82.8 percent of his field goals, 97.9 percent of his extra points and was even named to a Pro Bowl.
He is by far the Panthers all-time leading scorer with 1,482 points. That mark is nearly double the next highest player’s total, which is 742. A kicker wouldn’t be the most exciting selection, but Kasay has definitely earned consideration and respect.
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Featured image courtesy of the Carolina Panthers
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