The Carolina Panthers may have a potential new buyer set to enter the fray. Ben Navarro, a wealthy South Carolina businessman, is “actively exploring” a bid for the franchise, according to Jourdan Rodrigue and Katherine Peralta of the Charlotte Observer.

The Panthers were put up for sale by owner Jerry Richardson in December of last year after allegations of sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace against him became public.

Navarro, a former a Citigroup executive, is currently the CEO of Sherman Financial Group, a Charleston-based debt collection firm which buys and manages unpaid consumer debt, often in the form of credit card debt, in the U.S. and abroad. His family has known ties to sports, but the Panthers would be their first in professional football.

Article Continues Below
More Carolina Panthers News
image thumbnail
1 Carolina Panthers rookie who stood out most in 2025 minicampEnzo Flojo ·
Dec 20, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) exits the field after the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images. Panthers Dave Canales raves about Renfrow.
Dave Canales’ Hunter Renfrow update will fire up Panthers fansMike Gianakos ·
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (17) with the ball as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Amani Oruwariye (27) defefends in the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium.
Xavier Legette dishes on relationship with Panthers first-round pick Tetairoa McMillanBenjamin Adducchio ·
image thumbnail
Panthers’ riskiest move in 2025 NFL offseasonDouglas Fritz ·
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales with QB Bryce Young and a silhouette of an American football player with a big question mark emoji inside. There is also a logo for the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina Panthers 3 best trade targets to round out 2025 rosterBen Strauss ·
Tetairoa McMillan, Jordan Brand, Panthers
Jordan Brand signs Panthers’ Tetairoa McMillanDominik Zawartko ·

While Navarro’s true net worth is unknown, he could be the first known bidder with the financial wherewithal to buy the team outright, per the report. Sherman Financial brought in about $2 billion in revenue in 2016, according to reports.

Several big names have already been rumored to be in the running to buy the Panthers. Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry was reportedly interested in joining a group led by Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, while NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. has also expressed some interest in buying a minority ownership stake.

The Panthers are currently valued at around $2.3 billion by Forbes. However, there’s a good chance it might sell for a bit more, which could raise the upfront fee a majority owner must pay to well over $800 million.