Luke Kuechly didn’t wait long after his own Hall of Fame moment to make a strong pitch for two of his former Carolina Panthers teammates.
On Saturday, the former linebacker was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class, capping a long NFL career with football’s highest individual honor. Kuechly was celebrated in Canton before a large crowd, and with Julius Peppers having already gone in as part of the 2024 class, the conversation naturally turned to who might be next from Carolina.
Kuechly had his answer ready.
In a media session, he pointed to quarterback Cam Newton as one player who belongs in the Hall. Via Joe Person of The Athletic, Kuechly said:
“The only time he really had his pads on would be during games. He wore these big rib protectors.
He had these foam shin guards... He was the biggest person on the field, and then he was dominant.
He could run past guys, through guys, around guys, jump over guys. He could throw the ball anywhere on the field.
And when he was at his best, he was the best player on the field at all times.”
Newton’s Hall of Fame case is an easy one to understand from Kuechly’s perspective. He won an MVP and, at his peak, was exactly the kind of player who could tilt a game by himself.
Kuechly wasn’t finished there. He also singled out tight end Greg Olsen, making the case that Olsen was the other Panther opponents had to build their plan around.
“If I’m a team and I’m defending the Carolina Panthers, there are two guys that you have to worry about. First of all, it’s Greg Olsen because he can do everything,” Kuechly said.
“He can line up in the slot. He can put his hand in the ground.
He can block anyone. He can run receiver routes - frontside, backside, in the slot.”
Newton is eligible next year as a first-time candidate. Whether he or Olsen eventually get the call is still to be determined, but Kuechly made sure to put both names in the spotlight.
In Other News...
Panthers Hall Of Fame Game Buzz Left Out One Key Truth
The Hall of Fame preseason matchup between the Panthers and Cardinals drew a notable audience for a summer exhibition, averaging 6.99 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, according to NBC Sports. For a game with little at stake on the field, that is still a strong showing and one that comfortably outpaced some of the bigger broadcasts from MLB and the NHL, a reminder that the NFL remains a ratings anchor even in August.
Still, the buzz around the telecast carried a small but important asterisk. Some reports framed it as the biggest Hall of Fame Game audience since 2017, and that part is true for NBCs window, but the broader picture is a little different. The number did not top the 2021 game on Fox, so the Panthers spotlight came with a ratings caveat even as it underscored just how much attention the league can command before the real games begin. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Fortner Just Sent A Message At Panthers Camp
Training camp always has a way of sharpening the edges, and this latest Panthers practice brought a little more heat than usual when the line of scrimmage got chippy. Luke Fortner, who recently signed a one-year deal after Carolina lost its previous starting center, Cade Mays, found himself in the middle of the kind of dust-up that can reveal as much about a teams temperament as any drill or install period.
Head coach Dave Canales leaned into the moment afterward, praising Fortners loyalty and reminding the team that football comes with a physical edge, especially in camp when bodies are flying and emotions rise fast. For Carolina, the incident was less about the scuffle itself than what it said about a newcomer trying to establish himself in a crowded, demanding environment, with the response to the moment still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Zakee Wheatley May Have Just Changed Carolinas Safety Battle
A rookie safety trying to make noise in August often has to do it in every phase, and Zakee Wheatley did exactly that against the Cardinals. Starting in his first preseason game, he flashed as both a run defender and in coverage, showing up with the kind of active, physical effort that coaches notice quickly in a crowded defensive back room. With injuries affecting other Panthers players, the opening at safety has been a real storyline through camp, and Wheatleys debut at least gave Carolina another name to think about.
What makes the performance stand out is how complete it looked for a player still trying to carve out a role. Pro Football Focus gave Wheatley strong marks on both run and pass work, and the early comparison point inside the room is veteran Nick Scott, whose own value has been tied to making disruptive plays. The Panthers still have time to sort out the battle, but Wheatleys first step was the kind that can change the conversation fast. [Read more 🡒]