Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson dies at 86

Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson died on Wednesday night at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was 86.

Richardson was celebrated for bringing the NFL to Carolina in 1995, but his tenure with the team ended after the 2017 season due to scandal.

“Jerry Richardson’s contributions to professional football in the Carolina’s are historic,” current owners David and Nicole Tepper said in a statement. “With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave the NFL fans here a team to call their own.

“He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful.”

We are saddened to hear about the passing of former owner Jerry Richardson. pic.twitter.com/9Cjn0PSYW2

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) March 2, 2023

Richardson was forced to sell the team to Tepper for a then NFL-record $2.275 billion after the 2017 season amid allegations of sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace.

He was fined $2.75 million by the NFL after an extensive investigation into the allegations following a story by Sports Illustrated in which four former employees anonymously stated they reached a financial settlement with Richardson in exchange for silence.

Prior to that, Richardson was revered for bringing the Panthers to the NFL in 1995 and helping the team reach Super Bowls after the 2003 and 2015 seasons. He served on some of the league’s most prestigious committees and had become one of the more powerful owners.

John Fox, who coached the Panthers from 2002 to 2010 and led them to the Super Bowl in 2003, told ESPN on Thursday that he and his family are “thankful” for the opportunity Richardson gave them.

“Jerry Richardson brought NFL football to the Carolinas!” Fox said from the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera, who led Carolina to the Super Bowl in 2015, sent his condolences on Twitter.

“I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons,” Rivera posted. “Condolences to Rosalind, Ashley, & Mark and the Richardson family.”

Richardson was born in Spring Hope, North Carolina, in 1936. He attended Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he was a star tight end, and still holds the school’s single-game record for receiving yards in a game (241 against Newberry College in 1956).

He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1959 and caught a touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas in the 1959 NFL Championship game.

He took the money earned from that game and started the first Hardee’s franchise in Spartanburg. He ultimately became a millionaire and used that money to purchase the Panthers for $206 million.

He was dedicated to making the Panthers the team of the Carolinas, building Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte and making Wofford College the long-time home of the team’s training camp.

No cause was given for Richardson’s death. In 2009, he had a successful heart transplant at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

The family is planning a private funeral service. A public celebration of his life will be held at a later date.