Former Carolina Panther Charles Johnson has decided to hang up the cleats after spending 11 years in the league all down in Charlotte. The Panthers selected him in the third round in the 2007 draft, and he spent many years as an elite pass rusher who is second on the team's all-time sack list only behind Julius Peppers.

The Panthers released in February after a down season in 2017 which saw him suspended for four games and didn't see him record a sack. Johnson had back surgery before the start of last season, and it spelled the beginning of the end for his career.

“Once you have back surgery, I don’t care who you are, it’s a beast to get back,” Johnson said via the Panthers team site. “My body was just… I haven’t worked out since this winter. I tried to get motivated to work out, and my body said, ‘We’re not working out right now.’ It was about that time.”

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During his time with the Panthers Johnson played 143 games and had at least nine consecutive sacks in four straight seasons. Johnson will go down as one of the most popular teammates in Panthers history and was also a fan favorite during his time with the team.

When Johnson was asked how he would want to be remembered during his time in the league, he said that he wants to be remembered as hardworking and loyal.

“Loyal. Hard-working. A Panther all the way through. The Panthers were all I knew and all I ever wanted to know.”