The Carolina Panthers weren’t supposed to be a playoff team in 2025. But here they are-fresh off a gritty 8-9 season that somehow ended with a postseason berth and a narrow 34-31 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
On paper, it wasn’t a dominant campaign. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find something more important: the emergence of Bryce Young as a legitimate franchise quarterback.
Young took a big step forward this season, and it wasn’t just about the numbers-though those certainly tell a story. He threw for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while completing 63.6% of his passes, all career highs.
More than that, he looked comfortable, confident, and in command-three things that didn’t always show up during his rookie year. For the first time, Young looked like the guy Carolina hoped he’d be when they drafted him No. 1 overall.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Young spoke like a quarterback who understands the long game. “Everyone has their own journey in the NFL,” he said.
“When the margin for error is so small, it can lead to many different outcomes.” That’s a mature perspective from a player who’s clearly felt the weight of expectations-and criticism-since Day 1.
And the criticism hasn’t exactly been subtle. After a rocky rookie season, plenty of folks were ready to write off both Young and the Panthers.
But the 22-year-old isn’t letting that noise get to him. “I’m a fan of sports as well, so I’m grateful for anyone who has an opinion,” Young said.
“That means they care and support, which I appreciate. But for us, we can only afford to focus on the task at hand, focus on us, and what we’re doing in the building.”
That mindset-tuned in but locked in-helped guide the Panthers through a chaotic NFC South race. Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a team that steamrolled its way into the playoffs.
They stumbled down the stretch and missed chances to clinch the division outright. In the end, it took a Week 18 Falcons win over the Saints just to sneak Carolina into the postseason.
Still, the foundation is there. And it starts with Young.
His growth under center is the single biggest reason Carolina is ahead of schedule. But he’s not doing it alone.
Rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan turned heads all year and quickly became Young’s go-to target. He played with the poise and polish of a veteran, and his chemistry with Young gives the Panthers a legit 1-2 punch to build around.
Then there’s Rico Dowdle. After bouncing around the depth chart early in his career, Dowdle seized the starting running back job and never looked back. He gave Carolina a dependable, physical presence in the backfield, helping to balance the offense and take pressure off Young.
So, where does that leave the Panthers heading into 2026? Still a work in progress-but a promising one.
They’ve got their quarterback. They’ve got young playmakers on both sides of the ball.
And they’ve got a team that, despite the doubters, just showed it can fight its way into the postseason.
The next step? Turning that fight into consistency.
Because if Bryce Young keeps trending upward, and the supporting cast continues to grow with him, the Panthers might not be sneaking into the playoffs much longer. They’ll be expecting to be there-and expecting to win.