Last week, we asked fans of the Carolina Panthers if they were confident in the current direction of the team. The survey closed before the Hall of Fame game kicked off last Thursday and thus reflects the state of the fanbase prior to the Panthers becoming the first undefeated team of 2026.
Two thirds of Panthers fans are confident that Carolina is heading in the right direction.
The Panthers, if you recall, are currently coming off of their first division title and their first playoff berth in a decade.
They are returning the majority of their starters from last season and have made several personnel moves this offseason that should help the team take the next step forward. Those moves include signing Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd, as well as drafting Monroe Freeling.
So why are a third of Panthers fans still hesitant about their favorite team’s future? I think there are two reasons.
First, that decade between playoff games was a rough time to be a Panthers fan. Matt Rhule, Frank Reich, and the first two years of Bryce Young’s career were wildly inconsistent at best. Often, they were just downright atrocious. A lot of us are firmly planted in “I’ll believe it when I see it” mode when it comes to Carolina’s potential success.
Some of us might not even believe until we see them repeat a good season. And, no, I don’t think winning the NFC South with a losing record counts as a first good season. I love it, but it doesn’t count.
Second, Young’s inconsistent performances across his first two to three seasons have not inspired a lot of confidence. Between his offensive line, running backs, and wide receivers, Young is now in charge of operating what may be one of the most talented offenses the Panthers have ever fielded. There are no more excuses.
He has two years on his contract to earn the confidence of the team’s leadership. But fans, who already have one foot out of the door, won’t give him that long. From their perspective, the season opener this year against the Chicago Bears will be the most important game of Young’s career. A strong performance by Young and a win will go a long way towards lifting the overall confidence of Panthers fans. Any degree of struggle and a loss will make earning back the trust of some fans nearly impossible.
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