The2023 season was theCarolina Panthers' 29th in theNational Football League (NFL), their third and final under the leadership ofgeneral managerScott Fitterer and their only underhead coachFrank Reich. The Panthers started 0–6 for the first time since1998. Following the team's Week 12 loss to theTennessee Titans, not only did the Panthers fail to improve upon their 7–10 record from2022, but they also fired Reich and namedChris 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 theTampa Bay Buccaneers, the Panthers were eliminated from playoff contention for the sixth consecutive season.[2]
The team acquired the number one overall pick in the2023 NFL draft from theChicago Bears in a trade involving wide receiverD. J. Moore,[3] which they used to draft Alabama quarterbackBryce Young.[4] Young is the third quarterback drafted by the Panthers in the first round, followingKerry Collins in1995, andCam Newton in2011 (also taken first overall). As a result of the deal, the Bears ended up getting the #1 overall pick from Carolina in the 2024 Draft, and selected quarterbackCaleb Williams.
In Weeks 17 and 18, they were shut out by theJacksonville Jaguars[5] and theTampa Bay Buccaneers, becoming the first team since the2008 Cleveland Browns to be shutout in back-to-back games.[6] They finished with an abysmal 2–15 record, the worst record in the league, and tying the2001 team for most losses in a regular season.[7] The Panthers dubiously failed to hold a fourth quarter lead in any game during the season, with both of their wins coming on game-winning field goals as time expired with the team trailing by 1 point beforehand.[8]
The Carolina Panthers drew an average home attendance of 71,635 in 8 home games in the 2023 NFL season.
^abcThe Panthers traded first- and second-round selections (9th and 61st overall), a2024 first-round selection, a2025 second-round selection and WRD. J. Moore to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a first-round selection (1st overall).[9]
^abcThe Panthers traded RBChristian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for second-, third- and fourth-round selections (61st, 93rd and 132nd overall), and a 2024 fifth-round selection.[10]
^The Panthers traded a third-round selection (76th overall) and a2022 fourth-round selection to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2022 third-round selection.[11]
^abcThe Panthers traded third- and fourth-round selections (93rd and 132nd overall) to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a third-round selection (80th overall).[12]
^The Panthers traded a sixth-round selection (187th overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for CBStephon Gilmore.[13]
^The Panthers traded a seventh-round selection (226th overall) and a 2024 sixth-round selection to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for WRLaviska Shenault.[14]
In the Panthers' opening drive, they came close to scoring, but when they went for it on the fourth down, Atlanta stopped them. On their next drive, after two penalties, rookieBryce Young's pass was intercepted by the Falcons'Jessie Bates. The Falcons scored first when a Desmond Ridder to Bijan Robinson 11-yard pass resulted in a touchdown. Carolina got the ball back, and Young passed it toHayden Hurst for 4 yards, who tied the game at 7–7. The Panthers only scored three points in the second half during anEddy Piñeiro 43-yard field goal, while Atlanta scored 17, including twoTyler Allgeier touchdowns. Carolina lost the game in an embarrassing 10–24 and started the season 0–1.
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 fromDerek 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.
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 aJustin Jefferson touchdown. At the end of the half,Kirk Cousins threw another interception to Carolina'sKamu 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.
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 toTommy Tremble for a touchdown but thePAT 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.
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.
This turned out to be Frank Reich's last game as head coach of the Panthers, as he was fired the next day after this loss. Also shortly after the game, general managerDavid Tepper was heard shouting an f-bomb as he was leaving the Panthers locker room.
The Panthers travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints. In a stunning fashion, the Panthers lose 28-6 and got swept by the Saints for the first time since 2020.
The Panthers were shut out for the first time since Week 14 of the2002 season. With this loss, the Panthers dropped to 2-14 and locked up the league's worst record for the third time ever (following the2001 and2010 seasons), giving theChicago Bears the no. 1 overall pick in the2024 draft.
The Panthers ended their atrocious season with a second straight shutout, becoming the first team since the2008 Cleveland Browns to be shut out in back-to-back games. With this loss, the Panthers finished with the NFL's worst record at 2-15 (the first such record since the league expanded to 17 games in 2021).
^abcSan Francisco finished ahead of Dallas and Detroit based on conference record, claiming the No. 1 seed.
^abDallas claimed the No. 2 seed over Detroit based on head-to-head victory.
^abTampa Bay finished ahead of New Orleans in the NFC South 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.)
^abcGreen Bay and Seattle finished ahead of New Orleans based on conference record.
^abGreen Bay finished ahead of Seattle based on strength of victory, claiming the 7th and final playoff spot.
^abMinnesota finished ahead of Atlanta based on head-to-head victory. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Chicago (see below).
^abMinnesota finished ahead of Chicago based on common record. (Minnesota is 5–7 against Tampa Bay, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina, Kansas City, Green Bay, Atlanta, New Orleans, Denver, Las Vegas, and Detroit, while Chicago is 4–8 against the same teams.)
^abChicago finished ahead of Atlanta based on head-to-head victory.
^abWashington finished ahead of Arizona based on head-to-head victory.
^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.
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