Panthers Trending Up - and Staying Quiet About It
For the first time in a long time, the Carolina Panthers are making headlines for the right reasons - and not because of anything happening off the field. With a 7-6 record through 13 games, Carolina is above .500 this deep into a season for the first time since 2017.
That also happens to be the final year before David Tepper bought the team. Coincidence?
Maybe. But around the league, there’s a growing sense that the Panthers’ turnaround is tied not just to what’s happening on Sundays - but to what’s not happening behind the scenes.
Let’s be real: Tepper’s early tenure was anything but quiet. From sideline antics to high-profile coaching firings, his presence was hard to miss - and not always in a good way.
But lately? Crickets.
And that’s been a good thing. League insiders say Tepper has taken a big step back, letting his football people do their jobs.
The result? A more stable, focused, and - most importantly - competitive Panthers team.
“We went from seeing this guy five or six times during the season - tipping cups, doing whatever - to not seeing him at all,” said one executive from another team. “It is a huge improvement. He’s done a great job and deserves credit for it.”
That’s not something you hear often about owners, but it speaks to a broader truth in the NFL: ownership matters. And just like players and coaches, owners can grow into their roles. Tepper seems to be doing just that.
A Statement Win in L.A.
Carolina’s Week 13 win over the Rams - a 31-28 upset of a 9-2 team - wasn’t just a big win on paper. It was a statement about who the Panthers are becoming under head coach Dave Canales.
The Panthers didn’t just beat the Rams. They beat them playing Panthers football - or at least the version that Canales has been building.
That meant pounding the rock (40 total rushes, 35 by running backs), taking calculated shots downfield (touchdowns of 35, 33, and 43 yards), and letting the defense make plays. It was physical, efficient, and explosive - a clear nod to Canales’ roots under Pete Carroll.
And then there’s Bryce Young. The second-year quarterback has had his ups and downs, but against a strong Rams pass rush, he looked composed and decisive.
His third-down performance was particularly impressive: 6-of-8 for 86 yards and a touchdown, good for a 149.0 passer rating - the best third-down mark of his young career. That’s the kind of situational play that wins games in December.
Coker’s Return, Thielen’s Departure, and a Glimpse of the Future
One of the more under-the-radar developments in this game was the return of rookie receiver Jalen Coker. With Adam Thielen traded in a forward-looking move, Carolina needed someone to step up - and Coker answered the call.
His 33-yard touchdown grab on a gutsy fourth-and-3 call in the third quarter was a momentum-shifter. Later, with the game on the line, he hauled in a 10-yard reception on third-and-5 with just over two minutes remaining, helping the Panthers salt away the win. Those are winning plays, and they’re coming from a player who’s just starting to scratch the surface.
What’s Next?
The Panthers’ path to their first winning season since 2017 is still a grind. They’ll need at least two more wins from a remaining schedule that includes road games at New Orleans and Tampa Bay, and home matchups against Seattle and Tampa Bay again. But with wins already on the ledger against playoff-caliber teams like Dallas, Green Bay, and now Los Angeles, this team is proving it can go toe-to-toe with contenders.
Yes, they’ve also dropped games to struggling teams like Arizona and New Orleans. That inconsistency is part of the growing pains.
But the foundation looks stronger - and that’s not just about scheme or personnel. It’s about culture, stability, and leadership from the top down.
“Owners can improve,” said another exec. “I’m sure the DeBartolos weren’t great right away when they took over the 49ers.
Did Clark Hunt get better when he gave all the power to Andy Reid? Sometimes, they get distracted by their other businesses.”
Right now, David Tepper seems anything but distracted. And for the Panthers, that might be the biggest win of all.