David Tepper, the owner of the Carolina Panthers, has set his sights high for the 2026 season, declaring that a 50-game winning season is "absolutely" possible.
On Thursday morning, Tepper Sports & Entertainment announced a milestone extension of the naming rights deal for Bank of America Stadium. Later that evening, Tepper participated in a "fireside chat" alongside NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan. The event was moderated by FOX Sports host Curt Menefee, who asked Tepper about his team's prospects for the upcoming season.
"How do you feel going into training camp?" Menefee asked.
"Like we have a championship team," Tepper replied.
Tepper's optimism is not unfounded, given the Panthers' performance in the 2025 season. For the first time in eight years, the team clinched a postseason berth, albeit by a three-way tiebreaker at an 8-9 record.
The Panthers went on to show out in the wild-card round, nearly pulling off a bracket-busting upset of the Los Angeles Rams in Charlotte. If Tepper's standard for this year is met, then Bank of America Stadium will once again be playing host to some extra football into mid-January.
The Panthers' 2025 season was a significant improvement from previous years, and Tepper is likely looking to build on that momentum. However, a 50-game winning season would be a remarkable achievement, even for a team with high expectations.
The NFL season is set to kick off in September, with the Panthers' first game scheduled for Week 1. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if Tepper's bold prediction comes to fruition.
Source: Yahoo Sports