2025 Carolina Panthers season
The 2025 season was the Carolina Panthers' 31st in the National Football League and their second under the head coach/general manager tandem of Dave Canales and Dan Morgan. The Panthers improved upon their 5–12 record from 2024 after an overtime win against the [2025 2025 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons] in Week 11. Carolina returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, and won their first NFC South division title since 2015. The Panthers notably pulled off a 31–28 upset win at home against the NFC-leading Los Angeles Rams in Week 13.
For the first time since 2014, linebacker Shaq Thompson was not on the roster, as he was released on February 24. With their victory on October 19, the Panthers jumped to a 4–3 record. It was the first time the team had been over.500 since 2021. The Panthers' 8–7 start was their best since they started 9–4 in 2017. However, losses in their final two games would seal the Panthers’ eighth consecutive losing season, finishing the regular season with a Week 18 defeat at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This loss cost the Panthers a chance to clinch the division outright. However, a victory by the Atlanta Falcons over the New Orleans Saints on the following day gave Carolina the division title anyway due to a three-way tie with head-to-head advantage. The Panthers became the fifth team in NFL history to win a division with a losing record in a full season, joining the 2010 Seattle Seahawks, Carolina's 2014 squad, the 2020 Washington Football Team, and the 2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This also made Carolina the first team in NFL history to win two division titles with a losing record. Despite the turnaround season, however, their season would come to an abrupt end as the Panthers lost to the [2025 Los Angeles 2025 Los Angeles Rams season|Rams season|Los Angeles Rams] with a score of 34–31 in the Wild Card Round.
Draft
| Name | Position | College | Ref. |
| JaTravis Broughton | CB | TCU | |
| Ryan Fitzgerald | K | Florida State | |
| Ethan Garbers | QB | UCLA | |
| Jacolby George | WR | Miami (FL) | |
| Isaac Gifford | S | Nebraska | |
| Jared Harrison-Hunte | DE | SMU | |
| Jack Henderson | S | Minnesota | |
| Kobe Hudson | WR | UCF | |
| Luke Kandra | OL | Cincinnati | |
| Steven Losoya | OL | Vanderbilt | |
| Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams | RB | Michigan State | |
| Bam Martin-Scott | LB | South Carolina | |
| Moose Muhammad III | WR | Texas A&M | |
| Tuasivi Nomura | LB | Fresno State | |
| Bryce Pierre | TE | UCLA | |
| Michael Reid | CB | South Dakota | |
| Michael Tarquin | OL | Oklahoma | |
| Trevian Thomas | S | Arkansas State | |
| Corey Thornton | CB | [2024 Louisville 2025 Arizona Cardinals season|Cardinals football team|Louisville] |
'''Draft trades'''
Regular season
Schedule
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.Game summaries
Week 1: at Jacksonville Jaguars
In the season opener, the Panthers lost to Jacksonville 10–26. They started the season 0–1 for the fourth consecutive season. The game featured a 66-minute weather delay due to lightning in the area.Week 2: at Arizona Cardinals
After scoring just three points in the first half and entering the fourth quarter trailing 27–3, the Panthers rallied in the second half and came close to defeating Arizona. However, the potential comeback fell short when Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell sealed the game with a sack on Bryce Young. Carolina lost to Arizona 22–27 and fell to 0–2 on the season.Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons
In the Panthers' home opener, Atlanta was first with the ball and they missed their field goal attempt. Carolina gets the ball and quarterback Bryce Young scores a touchdown. On their next possession, punt returner Trevor Etienne dropped the ball and it was recovered by Atlanta. The Falcons try for another field but missed again. In the second, Ryan Fitzgerald kicks a field goal. They go into the half with a 10–0 lead. In the third, Chau Smith-Wade intercepts a pass intended for Bijan Robinson and scores a touchdown. Towards the end of the third, Michael Penix Jr. threw another interception this time caught by cornerback Mike Jackson. In the fourth, Rico Dowdle scored a touchdown. In their next possession, Fitzgerald scored another field goal. Carolina shuts out Atlanta 30–0 and improves to 1–2. This was the Panthers' first shutout victory since the 2020 season.Week 4: at New England Patriots
The Patriots proved to be too much for the Panthers, defeating them 42–13. Carolina fell to 1–3 with the loss. This was their first loss in Foxborough since 2009 and second loss to New England since 2021.Week 5: vs. Miami Dolphins
The Panthers rallied from a 17–0 deficit late in the second quarter, en route to beat Miami 27–24. The Panthers outgained the Dolphins on the ground 237–19. The Panthers tied a franchise record with their 17-point comeback, improving to 4–117 when trailing by 17 or more. Carolina improves to 2–3.Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys
In a close game with the Cowboys, where both teams were tied at the end, Ryan Fitzgerald kicked the game-winning field goal. Carolina improved to 3–3, and to.500 for the first time since the 2021 season. This win was also the Panthers first win against Dallas since 2018, snapping a 3 game losing streak.Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, who played for the Dallas Cowboys from 2020 to 2024, finished the game with 239 total yards from scrimmage, setting a new franchise record for Carolina.
Week 7: at New York Jets
The Panthers were the first to score in the first quarter, with a Ryan Fitzgerald 30-yard field goal. Nick Folk of the New York Jets tied it in the second, with a field goal. Carolina took back the lead when Bryce Young passed to Xavier Legette for a 3-yard touchdown, plus the PAT. Carolina scored a field goal in the third, while the Jets did the same in the fourth. The Panthers improved to 4–3. They went above.500 for the first time since the 2021 season.Week 8: vs. Buffalo Bills
In this game against Buffalo, the Bills beat Carolina 40–9. With the loss, the Panthers fell to 4–4.Week 9: at Green Bay Packers
It was a scoreless first quarter for both the Panthers and Packers. In the second, Brandon McManus kicked a 49-yard field goal for Green Bay. Rico Dowdle scored a 5-yard touchdown for Carolina, plus the PAT. McManus kicked another field goal for Green Bay. Carolina went into the half with a 7–6 lead. Dowdle scored again in the third but the extra point attempt was no good. Green Bay tied it up in the fourth with a Josh Jacobs touchdown. With just one second remaining, Ryan Fitzgerald nailed a 49-yard field goal to lift the Panthers to a thrilling 16–13 victory.Despite entering the game as two-touchdown underdogs, the Panthers pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the NFL this season. With the upset win, the Panthers improved to 5–4. This was their first win against the Packers since 2017 and their first win at Green Bay since 2008.
Week 11: at Atlanta Falcons
Carolina opened the game with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Tetairoa McMillan, and Atlanta answered with a touchdown by Bijan Robinson. In the second quarter, Robinson and Tyler Allgeier each scored a touchdown for the Falcons, giving them the lead. Near the end of the half, Ryan Fitzgerald kicked a field goal for Carolina, and the Panthers entered halftime trailing 10–21. Early in the third quarter, Bryce Young threw a 36-yard touchdown to Xavier Legette, though the two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful. On Atlanta’s ensuing possession, the Falcons fumbled and Carolina recovered, but the Panthers failed to convert the takeaway into points. Carolina scored a field goal on their next drive, cutting the deficit to two. Atlanta responded with a field goal by Zane Gonzalez with 2:43 remaining. McMillan then scored another touchdown for Carolina, followed by a successful two-point conversion by Jalen Coker. The Falcons tied the game at 27 with 16 seconds left, sending it to overtime. For the third time this season, Fitzgerald kicked a game-winning field goal, securing a 30–27 victory for Carolina.With their second overtime win in Atlanta, the Panthers improved to 6–5 for the first time since 2018, and swept the Falcons for the first time since 2013 season.
One week after struggling against the Saints, Bryce Young rebounded by completing 31-of-45 passes for 448 yards and three touchdowns. His 448 passing yards set a new Panthers franchise record for the most passing yards in a game, surpassing the 432 yards thrown by Cam Newton against the Green Bay Packers on September 18, 2011.
Week 12: at San Francisco 49ers
The Panthers faced their former running back, Christian McCaffrey for the first time since trading him to San Francisco during the 2022 season. McCaffrey recorded 142 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown, contributing to a 49ers's 20–9 victory despite quarterback Brock Purdy throwing three first-half interceptions.Late in the game, Tre'von Moehrig struck 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings in the groin following a run play. After the game, Jennings responded by punching Moehrig in the helmet. The NFL subsequently suspended Moehrig for one game without pay, while Jennings was fined $12,172 for his actions. Carolina falls to 6–6.
Week 13: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Despite entering the game as 10-point underdogs to the Rams, the Panthers pulled off an upset win and kept their playoff hopes alive. L.A. starts the game with a Davante Adams touchdown. Carolina ties it with a Chuba Hubbard touchdown. In the Rams' next possession, Stafford throws a pass intended for Colby Parkinson in the end zone but it was intercepted by Nick Scott, ending Stafford's NFL record streak of 28 consecutive touchdown passes without an interception. It is a quick three and out for Carolina. Stafford throws it to Puka Nacua but it was intercepted by Mike Jackson for a pick six. In the beginning of the second, the Rams tie it at 14. Ryan Fitzgerald gives Carolina a three-point lead. At the end of the second quarter, the Rams take back the lead with a touchdown and go into the half with a 21–17 lead. Carolina starts the second half with a Jalen Coker touchdown. In the fourth, Kyren Williams scores a 7-yard touchdown for the Rams. Carolina takes back the lead with a Tetairoa McMillan touchdown. In the decisive moment of the fourth quarter, Derrick Brown, who had tipped the pass that led to Stafford's first interception, recorded a critical strip-sack with 2:25 remaining, helping secure Carolina's 31–28 victory. They improve to 7–6.Week 15: at New Orleans Saints
With the Buccaneers losing, the Panthers had a chance to pull away in the NFC South with a win against the Saints. In the first quarter, Carolina scored first on a Rico Dowdle touchdown. After an 11:22-minute drive in the second quarter, New Orleans tied the game, but the Panthers ended the quarter with a field goal to hold a three-point lead at halftime. Carolina opened the third quarter with a Jalen Coker touchdown, and the Saints responded with a Zach Wood field goal. With 2:33 remaining, New Orleans tied the contest on a Juwan Johnson touchdown and ultimately won with a game-winning 47-yard field goal. Carolina fell to 7–7.Week 16: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In an important NFC South divisional game, Carolina scores first with a Ryan Fitzgerald field goal. Tampa Bay soon takes the lead with a Mike Evans 1-yard touchdown. The Bucs increase their lead by three in the second quarter with a field goal. In the last couple of minutes remaining in the half, the Panthers score twice with a Fitzgerald field goal and a Tetairoa McMillan 22-yard touchdown. The Panthers take back the lead heading into halftime. Tampa Bay scores in the third with a Sean Tucker touchdown. Carolina follows with a Ja'Tavion Sanders touchdown. Tampa Bay ties it in the fourth quarter, with a field goal. With 2:20 to go in the game, Carolina kicks a field goal. Baker Mayfield passed the ball intended for Evans but it was intercepted by Lathan Ransom which won the game for Carolina. The Panthers win 23–20 and improve to 8–7.With the win, this is the first time since 2017 they have won more than seven games, and also the first time since 2022 they have beat Tampa Bay.
Week 17: vs. Seattle Seahawks
After being tied at 3 going into halftime, Seattle outscored Carolina in the second half 24–7 to defeat the Panthers 27–10. With the loss, the Panthers fell to 8–8, finishing 1–3 against the NFC West and 5–3 at home. Despite the loss, the Buccaneers’ loss to the Dolphins set up an NFC South showdown in Week 18.Week 18: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With the loss, the Panthers finished the regular season at 8–9, clinching their eighth consecutive losing season. Despite the loss, the Falcons’ victory over the Saints the following day clinched the NFC South title for the Panthers. The Buccaneers, Panthers, and Falcons all finished the season with 8–9 records, but Carolina won the division based on head-to-head tiebreakers among the three teams. The Panthers went 3–1 in those matchups, compared to 2–2 for the Buccaneers and 1–3 for the Falcons, eliminating both teams from playoff contention.The Panthers reached the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and captured the NFC South title for the first time since the 2015 season. They also became the first team in NFL history to win their division twice while finishing the regular season with a losing record. With the Rams defeating the Cardinals, the Panthers were scheduled to face the Rams in the Wild Card Round.