1995 Carolina Panthers season
The 1995 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's inaugural season in the National Football League and the first under head coach Dom Capers. They went 7–9, the best debut year for any expansion franchise since the NFL's inception. The Panthers played their first season's home games at Clemson University because what would become Ericsson Stadium was still under construction after a deadline point in 1995 for scheduling Carolina's first set of NFL games.
Offseason
The Panthers were jokingly called "Buffalo Bills South" because of the large number of former Bills on the roster. Quarterback Frank Reich, wide receiver Don Beebe, tight end Pete Metzelaars and linebacker Carlton Bailey had played key roles in the Bills' run of four consecutive Super Bowls earlier in the 1990s and were on the Panthers' inaugural roster. Furthermore, the team's general manager was longtime Bills GM and executive Bill Polian.Expansion draft
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | Drafted from |
| 1 | 2 | Rod Smith^ | CB | [1994 1994 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots season|New England Patriots] |
| 2 | 4 | Harry Boatswain | OT | [1994 1994 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers] |
| 3 | 6 | Kurt Haws | TE | [1994 1994 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins] |
| 4 | 8 | Tyrone Rodgers | DE | Seattle Seahawks |
| 5 | 10 | Mark Thomas^ | DE | San Francisco 49ers |
| 6 | 12 | Tim McKyer^ | CB | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 7 | 14 | Curtis Whitley^ | C | San Diego Chargers |
| 8 | 16 | Howard Griffith^ | FB | Los Angeles Rams |
| 9 | 18 | Greg Kragen^ | NT | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 10 | 20 | Cary Brabham | S | Los Angeles Raiders |
| 11 | 22 | Dave Garnett | LB | Minnesota Vikings |
| 12 | 24 | Andre Powell | LB | New York Giants |
| 13 | 26 | Dewell Brewer^ | RB | Indianapolis Colts |
| 14 | 28 | Bob Christian^ | FB | [1994 1994 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears] |
| 15 | 30 | Fred Foggie | S | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 16 | 32 | Mark Carrier^ | WR | Cleveland Browns |
| 17 | 34 | Mark Rodenhauser^ | C | Detroit Lions |
| 18 | 36 | Steve Hawkins | WR | New England Patriots |
| 19 | 38 | Brian O'Neal | RB | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 20 | 40 | Derrick Lassic | RB | Dallas Cowboys |
| 21 | 42 | Richard Buchanan | WR | Los Angeles Rams |
| 22 | 44 | Doug Pederson | QB | Miami Dolphins |
| 23 | 46 | Vince Marrow | TE | [1994 1994 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills] |
| 24 | 48 | Larry Ryans | WR | Detroit Lions |
| 25 | 50 | Baron Rollins | G | [1994 1994 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints] |
| 26 | 52 | Williams Sims | LB | Minnesota Vikings |
| 27 | 54 | Paul Butcher^ | LB | Indianapolis Colts |
| 28 | 56 | Jack Trudeau^ | QB | [1994 1994 New York Jets season|New York Jets season|New York Jets] |
| 29 | 58 | Charles Swann | WR | Denver Broncos |
| 30 | 60 | David Mims | WR | [1994 1994 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons] |
| 31 | 62 | Shawn Price^ | DE | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 32 | 63 | Eric Guliford^ | WR | Minnesota Vikings |
| 33 | 64 | Bill Goldberg | DT | Atlanta Falcons |
| 34 | 65 | Eric Ball | RB | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 35 | 66 | Mike Teeter^ | DT | Houston Oilers |
^ Made roster.
NFL draft
'''Draft trades'''Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
| Billy Mitchell | Cornerback/S | Texas A&M |
| Patrick Scott | Linebacker | South Carolina State |
Season summary
Week 7: vs New York Jets
Players dumped Gatorade on Dom Capers after the win.Week 15: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Records
- Most victories by an expansion team
- First expansion team to have a winning record at home
- First expansion team to have a four-game winning streak
- First expansion team to defeat a defending Super Bowl champion in its inaugural season