The Carolina Panthers are simply not particularly known in the franchise's history for quarterback display, although that obviously changed in that last decade as Cam Newton has come and gone.
Besides Newton, though, who are the best quarterbacks in franchise history? There are a few names on this list that gave some of their best NFL years to the Panthers.
5. Kyle Allen (2018-19)
The first name mentioned here is a bit of surprise, but given Carolina's history of signal-callers, it's no less deserving. Former undrafted free agent Kyle Allen from the University of Houston first joined the Panthers in 2018 as a practice squad member before taking over the reins of Ron Rivera's offense due to an injury to Newton.
Obviously, Allen did not exactly achieve much during his brief tenure with the Panthers, but he did show plenty of grit under center for a team on the mend. After making one start in 2018, Allen returned this past season and ended up making 13 more starts due to a season-ending injury to Newton, which also ended up terminating his stay in Charlotte. Allen went 6-7 and made the most of his opportunities, although it didn't end up with a postseason berth.
Allen, since leaving the Panthers this offseason for the Washington Football Team, is sixth all-time in Panthers history in passing yards (3,588) and fifth in touchdowns (19).
4. Kerry Collins (1995-98)
Next up is another familiar name and a longtime NFL quarterback, Kerry Collins.
The much-traveled Collins started his career as a fifth overall selection by the then-expansion Panthers in the 1995 NFL Draft out of Penn State. Collins spent the first three and a half seasons in Carolina (before getting unceremoniously waived in 1998, signing with the New Orleans Saints before spending the next five years with the New York Giants.
With the Panthers, Collins was a Pro Bowler in his sophomore professional campaign, when he went 9-3 in 12 starts (the next year he'd throw a league-worse 21 interceptions). That 1996 season saw Collins and the Panthers lost in the NFC Championship Game—the second year in existence for the expansion club.
Collins is fourth in both the Panthers' all-time passing yards and touchdowns leaderboard (more than doubling Allen's output in each category, for reference's sake).
3. Steve Beuerlein (1996-2000)
Collins' successor was Steve Beuerlein, whose Panthers teams struggled a bit, compared to the ol' halcyon days where Carolina's first years yielded a conference title-game appearance.
Arriving as a hired veteran gunslinger in 1996, Collins' second year, Beuerlein at the time had already seven years of experience at the NFL level, with the Notre Dame alum spending time with five prior franchises.
With the Panthers, Beuerlein would earn his one and only Pro Bowl selection during the 1999 NFL campaign when he led the league in passing yards (4,436), coming in second to Kurt Warner in the MVP race.
Alas, Beuerlein's tenure with the Panthers was not too rosy as the club never reached the playoffs. Beuerlein went 23-28 in his starts for Carolina before ending his career with the Denver Broncos. Beuerlein is third all-time in passing yards and touchdowns for the Panthers.
2. Jake Delhomme (2003-09)
A few years later along came Jake Delhomme. Like Beuerlein, Delhomme was a bit of veteran and not the groomed quarterback-of-the-future for the Panthers like Collins or Newton. Delhomme was an undrafted signal-caller, like Allen, who spent a year on the Saints' practice squad along with playing in Europe.
Delhomme found his shot with the Panthers in 2003 when he took over for Rodney Peete midway through Week 1 of the season, after which never letting go of the starting job. That year the Panthers went to the Super Bowl, losing to the New England Patriots by a three-point margin. Delhomme went 10-5 in his first year with Carolina, though.
The next season Delhomme and the Panthers regressed, but 2005 saw the undrafted gunslinger earn his only Pro Bowl appearance, going 11-5, and taking Carolina to the conference title game. Delhomme spent four more years with the Panthers, eventually earning the top spot on the all-time leaderboard in passing yards and touchdowns—until those records were broken by a top prospect.
1. Cam Newton (2011-19)
First on the list has to be Cam Newton, who saw his Panthers tenure come to a silent end this past season and in the spring. Newton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Auburn. A Heisman Trophy winner, Newton was a college phenom with Auburn, winning a national title before moving on to the pros.
Newton blossomed into a dual-threat star with the Panthers, orchestrating Rivera's offense. The Panthers reached the postseason in three consecutive years (four in five years, too), peaking with a Super Bowl defeat to the Denver Broncos in 2015-16 when an MVP Newton led the team to a near-undefeated regular season record, 15-1.
Newton is Carolina's most-accomplished quarterback; a three-time Pro Bowler, one-time All-Pro First Team selection, MVP, Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Offensive Player of the Year. He's the franchise's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.
Newton will start a new journey in New England, but the memories with the Panthers will last forever.
Follow Us
Subscribe