2023 Carolina Panthers season
OwnerDavid Tepper
General managerScott Fitterer
Head coachFrank Reich (fired November 27; 1–10 record)
Chris Tabor (interim; 1-5 record)
Home fieldBank of America Stadium
Results
Record2–15
Division place4th NFC South
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Uniform

The 2023 season was the Carolina Panthers' 29th in the National Football League (NFL), their third under the leadership of general manager Scott Fitterer and their only under head coach Frank Reich. The Panthers started 0–6 for the first time since 1998 after losing to the Miami Dolphins in Week 6. Following the team's Week 12 loss to the Tennessee Titans, not only did the Panthers fail to improve upon their 7–10 record from 2022, but they also fired Reich and named Chris Tabor as interim head coach.[1] Reich's firing marks the third firing of a head coach in five years and the second firing in two years for the franchise. Following a Week 13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Panthers were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the sixth consecutive season.[2]

The team acquired the number one overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from the Chicago Bears in a trade involving wide receiver D. J. Moore,[3] which they used to draft Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.[4] Young is just the third quarterback drafted by the Panthers in the first round, following Kerry Collins in 1995, and Cam Newton in 2011 (also taken first overall).

In Week 17, they were shut out 26–0 by the Jacksonville Jaguars, their first shutout loss since Week 12 of the 2002 season; they secured the NFL's worst record in 2023 with this loss and gave the Bears the first overall pick in the 2024 draft.[5] The following week, they were shut out again, this time 9–0 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and finished 2–15, their worst record since 2001.[6] They were the first team since the 2008 Cleveland Browns to be shutout in back-to-back games.[7]

Draft

2023 Carolina Panthers Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
11 Bryce YoungQBAlabamaFrom Chicago
9 Traded to the Chicago Bears[upper-alpha 1]
239 Jonathan MingoWROle Miss
61 Traded to the Chicago Bears[upper-alpha 1]From San Francisco[upper-alpha 2]
376 Traded to the New England Patriots[upper-alpha 3]
80 D. J. JohnsonOLBOregonFrom Pittsburgh
4114 Chandler ZavalaGNC State
5145 Jammie RobinsonSFlorida State
6187 Traded to the New England Patriots[upper-alpha 3]
7226 Traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars[upper-alpha 4]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Carolina acquired the No. 1 overall pick from the Chicago Bears in exchange for wide receiver D. J. Moore, the No. 9 overall pick, a second-round pick (No. 61 overall) in the 2023 draft, a first-round pick in 2024, and a second-round pick in 2025.
  2. ↑ San Francisco traded second, third, and fourth-round selections and a 2024 fifth-round selection to Carolina in exchange for running back Christian McCaffrey.
  3. 1 2 Carolina traded a sixth-round selection to New England in exchange for cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
  4. ↑ Carolina traded a seventh-round selection and a 2024 sixth-round selection to Jacksonville in exchange for wide receiver Laviska Shenault.
2023 Carolina Panthers undrafted free agents
Name Position College Ref.
Austin Ajiake MLB UNLV [8]
Nico Bolden S Kent State
J. D. DiRenzo OL Rutgers [9]
Nash Jensen G North Dakota State [8]
Ricky Lee OT North Carolina A&T
Eku Leota OLB Auburn
Mark Milton CB Baylor
Travez Moore OLB Arizona State
Camerun Peoples RB Appalachian State
Bumper Pool MLB Arkansas
Jalen Redmond DE Oklahoma
Colby Richardson CB LSU
Josh Vann WR South Carolina
Rejzohn Wright CB Oregon State

Staff

2023 Carolina Panthers staff
Front office
  • Owner – David Tepper
  • President – Kristi Coleman
  • General manager – Scott Fitterer
  • Assistant general manager – Dan Morgan
  • Vice president of football administration – Samir Suleiman
  • Vice president of player personnel – Adrian Wilson
  • Director of player personnel – Cole Spencer
  • Senior personnel executive – Jeff Morrow
  • Director of football operations – Mike Anderson
  • Director of college scouting – Jared Kirksey
  • Director of pro scouting – Rob Hanrahan
  • Assistant director of pro scouting – Tyler Ramsey
  • Director of football analytics – Taylor Rajack
  • Vice president of team development – Brian Decker

Head coaches

  • Interim head coach/special teams coordinator – Chris Tabor

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator – Thomas Brown
  • Passing game coordinator – Parks Frazier
  • Wide receivers – Shawn Jefferson
  • Tight ends – John Lilly
  • Offensive line – James Campen
  • Assistant offensive line – Robert Kugler
  • Offensive assistant – Mike Bercovici
  • Offensive assistant – Jamel Mutunga
  • Offensive quality control/assistant to the head coach – Tyler Boyles
 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Ejiro Evero
  • Defensive line – Todd Wash
  • Linebackers – Peter Hansen
  • Outside linebackers – Tem Lukabu
  • Secondary/cornerbacks – Jonathan Cooley
  • Safeties – Bert Watts
  • Assistant defensive backs – DeAngelo Hall
  • Senior defensive assistant – Dom Capers
  • Defensive assistant – Mayur Chaudhari
  • Defensive quality control – Bobby Maffei

Special teams coaches

  • Assistant special teams – Devin Fitzsimmons

Strength and conditioning

  • Head athletic trainer – Kevin King
  • Strength and conditioning – Jeremy Scott
  • Strength and conditioning assistant – Thomas Barbeau
  • Human performance assistant – Timothy Rabas

Final roster

2023 Carolina Panthers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 15 inactive, 16 practice squad (+1 exempt)

Preseason

The Panthers' preseason opponents and schedule was announced in the spring.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 12 New York Jets L 0–27 0–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap
2 August 18 at New York Giants L 19–21 0–2 MetLife Stadium Recap
3 August 25 Detroit Lions L 17–26 0–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 10 at Atlanta Falcons L 10–24 0–1 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
2 September 18 New Orleans Saints L 17–20 0–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap
3 September 24 at Seattle Seahawks L 27–37 0–3 Lumen Field Recap
4 October 1 Minnesota Vikings L 13–21 0–4 Bank of America Stadium Recap
5 October 8 at Detroit Lions L 24–42 0–5 Ford Field Recap
6 October 15 at Miami Dolphins L 21–42 0–6 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
7 Bye
8 October 29 Houston Texans W 15–13 1–6 Bank of America Stadium Recap
9 November 5 Indianapolis Colts L 13–27 1–7 Bank of America Stadium Recap
10 November 9 at Chicago Bears L 13–16 1–8 Soldier Field Recap
11 November 19 Dallas Cowboys L 10–33 1–9 Bank of America Stadium Recap
12 November 26 at Tennessee Titans L 10–17 1–10 Nissan Stadium Recap
13 December 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 18–21 1–11 Raymond James Stadium Recap
14 December 10 at New Orleans Saints L 6–28 1–12 Caesars Superdome Recap
15 December 17 Atlanta Falcons W 9–7 2–12 Bank of America Stadium Recap
16 December 24 Green Bay Packers L 30–33 2–13 Bank of America Stadium Recap
17 December 31 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 0–26 2–14 EverBank Stadium Recap
18 January 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 0–9 2–15 Bank of America Stadium Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons

Week 1: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 7 3010
Falcons 0 7 31424

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

In the Panthers' opening drive, they came close to scoring, but when they went for it on the fourth, Atlanta stopped them. On their next drive, after two penalties, rookie Bryce Young's pass was intercepted by the Falcons' Jessie Bates. The Falcons score. Carolina gets the ball back, and Young passes it to Hayden Hurst, who ties the game at 7. The Panthers only score three points in the second half, while Atlanta scores 17. Carolina loses 10–24 and starts the season 0–1.

Week 2: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week 2: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 3 3 7720
Panthers 3 0 31117

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

In the Panthers' home opener, both Carolina and New Orleans scored a field goal in the first quarter. In the second, the Saints scored another field goal. Later, Vonn Bell intercepted the ball from Derek Carr. As the Panthers approach the end zone, Bryce Young is sacked, and the ball is knocked out of his hands. New Orleans recovers the ball. Carolina ties it in the third. The Saints follow with a touchdown. In the fourth, the Panthers kicked another field goal. With 3:14 to go, New Orleans scores a touchdown. The Panthers try to come back at the end with a touchdown and two-point conversion, but it was not enough. The Saints beat the Panthers 20–17, and Carolina starts off the season 0–2. This loss gave the Panthers their fourth 0–2 start in five seasons.

Week 3: at Seattle Seahawks

Week 3: Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 3 10 01427
Seahawks 3 9 101537

at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

Game information

Week 4: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 7 14021
Panthers 7 6 0013

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

On the Vikings' opening drive, as they were about to score, Sam Franklin intercepted the ball and scored a 99-yard pick-six. In the beginning of the second, Eddy Piñeiro made a field goal, giving Carolina a 10–0 lead. Minnesota decreased the lead with a Justin Jefferson touchdown. At the end of the half, Kirk Cousins threw another interception to Carolina's Kamu Grugier-Hill. Piñeiro made another field goal, giving Carolina a 13–7 lead at the half. In the third, Bryce Young lost the ball on a strip sack and Minnesota's D.J. Wonnum recovered the fumble and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Vikings a one-point lead. The Vikings would add another touchdown on a 30-yard pass from Cousins to Jefferson, and Minnesota's defense held on in the fourth quarter to secure a 21–13 victory.

With the loss, Carolina dropped to 0–4.

Week 5: at Detroit Lions

Week 5: Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 10 01424
Lions 14 14 01442

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Game information

Week 6: at Miami Dolphins

Week 6: Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 14 0 0721
Dolphins 0 21 71442

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

Week 8: vs. Houston Texans

Week 8: Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Texans 0 7 6013
Panthers 0 6 6315

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

It was a scoreless first quarter for both Carolina and Houston. In the second quarter, Houston scored with a touchdown. With less than two minutes to go in the half, Bryce Young passes it to Tommy Tremble for a touchdown but the PAT is no good. Early in the third, Eddy Piñeiro kicked a field goal giving the Panthers a two-point lead. Houston fumbles the ball and it is recovered by the Panthers. Piñeiro makes another field goal. Texans follow with a touchdown but the attempt for a two-point conversion is no good. With three seconds to go in the game, Piñeiro kicks the game winning field goal and Panthers win 15–13. They improve to 1–6.

Week 9: vs. Indianapolis Colts

Week 9: Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 20 0727
Panthers 0 3 7313

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: November 5
  • Game time: 4:05 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Clear, 75 °F (24 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,301
  • Referee: Bill Vinovich
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 10: at Chicago Bears

Week 10: Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 3 0313
Bears 3 6 7016

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

In Carolina's second drive of the game, Ihmir Smith-Marsette scores a 79-yard punt return touchdown. Chicago follows with a field goal. At the top of the second, Eddy Piñeiro kicks a field goal. The Bears scored at the end of the second, giving Carolina a 10–9 lead at the half. Chicago is the first to score in the second half with a touchdown by former Panther, D'Onta Foreman. Panthers kick another field goal early in the fourth. The Bears defeat Carolina 16–13, and the Panthers fall to 1–8.

Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 11: Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 7 10 01633
Panthers 0 3 7010

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

Week 12: at Tennessee Titans

Week 12: Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 3 7010
Titans 7 10 0017

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Game information

Week 13: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 13: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 3 7818
Buccaneers 7 0 7721

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Game information

Week 14: at New Orleans Saints

Week 14: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 3 306
Saints 0 14 01428

at Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

Week 15: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Week 15: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 7 007
Panthers 0 3 069

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: December 17
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Rain, 46 °F (8 °C)
  • Game attendance: 70,301
  • Referee: Land Clark
  • TV announcers (Fox): Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth and Kristina Pink
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 16: Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Packers 7 16 01033
Panthers 3 7 61430

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 67 °F (19 °C)
  • Game attendance: 70,875
  • Referee: Alex Kemp
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Robert Smith and Jen Hale
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: at Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 17: Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 000
Jaguars 3 6 10726

at EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

  • Date: December 31
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 67,215
  • Referee: Carl Cheffers
  • TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 18: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 18: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 0 6 039
Panthers 0 0 000

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: January 7
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 54 °F (12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 69,010
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Shannon Spake
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings

Division

NFC South
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9 8 0 .529 4–2 7–5 348 325 W1
New Orleans Saints 9 8 0 .529 4–2 6–6 402 327 W2
Atlanta Falcons 7 10 0 .412 3–3 4–8 321 373 L2
Carolina Panthers 2 15 0 .118 1–5 1–11 236 416 L3

Conference

NFC
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1[lower-alpha 1] San Francisco 49ers West 12 5 0 .706 5–1 10–2 .509 .475 L1
2[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] Dallas Cowboys East 12 5 0 .706 5–1 9–3 .446 .392 W2
3[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] Detroit Lions North 12 5 0 .706 4–2 8–4 .481 .436 W1
4[lower-alpha 3] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 9 8 0 .529 4–2 7–5 .481 .379 W1
Wild cards
5 Philadelphia Eagles East 11 6 0 .647 4–2 7–5 .481 .476 L2
6 Los Angeles Rams West 10 7 0 .588 5–1 8–4 .529 .453 W4
7[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5] Green Bay Packers North 9 8 0 .529 4–2 7–5 .474 .458 W3
Did not qualify for the postseason
8[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5] Seattle Seahawks West 9 8 0 .529 2–4 7–5 .512 .392 W1
9[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4] New Orleans Saints South 9 8 0 .529 4–2 6–6 .433 .340 W2
10[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 7] Minnesota Vikings North 7 10 0 .412 2–4 6–6 .509 .454 L4
11[lower-alpha 7][lower-alpha 8] Chicago Bears North 7 10 0 .412 2–4 6–6 .464 .370 L1
12[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 8] Atlanta Falcons South 7 10 0 .412 3–3 4–8 .429 .462 L2
13 New York Giants East 6 11 0 .353 3–3 5–7 .512 .353 W1
14[lower-alpha 9] Washington Commanders East 4 13 0 .235 0–6 2–10 .512 .338 L8
15[lower-alpha 9] Arizona Cardinals West 4 13 0 .235 0–6 3–9 .561 .588 L1
16 Carolina Panthers South 2 15 0 .118 1–5 1–11 .522 .500 L3
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 10]
  1. 1 2 3 San Francisco finished ahead of Dallas and Detroit based on conference record, claiming the #1 seed.
  2. 1 2 Dallas finished ahead of Detroit based on head-to-head victory.
  3. 1 2 Tampa Bay finished ahead of New Orleans based on common record. (Tampa Bay is 8–4 against Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Atlanta, Carolina, Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville, and Indianapolis, while New Orleans is 6–6 against the same teams.)
  4. 1 2 3 Green Bay and Seattle finished ahead of New Orleans based on conference record.
  5. 1 2 Green Bay finished ahead of Seattle based on strength of victory, claiming the 7th and final playoff spot.
  6. 1 2 Minnesota finished ahead of Atlanta based on head-to-head victory. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Chicago (see below).
  7. 1 2 Minnesota finished ahead of Chicago based on common record.
  8. 1 2 Chicago finished ahead of Atlanta based on head-to-head victory.
  9. 1 2 Washington finished ahead of Arizona based on head-to-head victory.
  10. ↑ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.

References

  1. ↑ "Panthers part ways with head coach Frank Reich". Panthers.com. November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Panthers officially eliminated from playoff contention with Week 13 loss to Bucs". Yahoo Sports. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  3. ↑ https://www.nfl.com/news/bears-trading-no-1-overall-pick-to-panthers-for-wr-d-j-moore-four-draft-picks
  4. ↑ https://www.nfl.com/news/panthers-select-alabama-qb-bryce-young-with-no-1-overall-pick-in-2023-nfl-draft
  5. ↑ "Panthers lock up NFL's worst record with first shutout in over 20 years". WCNC.com. December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch third straight NFC South title". NFL.com. January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Panthers suffer second shutout loss in a row as Buccaneers win NFC South". WCNC.com. January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Panthers agree to terms with undrafted rookies". panthers.com. April 29, 2023.
  9. ↑ Gantt, Darin (August 30, 2023). "Panthers add 11 players to the practice squad". Carolina Panthers.
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