Things have changed for Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers recently. Resilience runs in his blood, and being a student of the game took him from the bench to the bright lights and MVP chants ringing out in Charlotte.
Back in 2024, Bryce Young was benched in favor of Andy Dalton. The forbidden "bust" word crept in. Since that time, Bryce Young has done nothing but shine and put the Carolina Panthers back on the map as not only a really good, division-winning team, but also a perennial playoff contender. On Sunday Night Football, the Detroit Lions came in as the favorite, but the Panthers had the last laugh after a historic night.
To put things in perspective, Bryce Young entered the game leading the NFL in passing yards with over 900 yards through
three games. After pulling off the win against Detroit, Young played flawlessly again, throwing for 329 yards and 2 more touchdowns without an interception. This year, he has 1,268 passing yards, a 62% completion rate, 9 touchdowns, and only 2 interceptions.
Young has led 22 scoring drives in the first four games of the season, the most in any season since 2000. Beyond that, the Panthers could have one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Last night, MVP chants rang out, and afterward, Young would be asked if he heard them, and he would say, "I heard it. In the moment, you just focus on everything and try to move the team—obviously, a huge blessing: the support. And I mean, the Bank [Bank of America Stadium] tonight was electric. They caused some false starts. They made it hard on them. And when the Bank's rocking like that we take a lot of pride in that. I'm super, super grateful for the fans."
Young is set to make $12.1 million this season in the fourth year of his rookie deal. His fifth-year option is worth a guaranteed $25.9 million. The team picked it up this offseason. Without an extension, Young must play well to earn a spot at the negotiating table this offseason.
A remarkable turnaround thus far has the pen-to-paper ready to roll for 2027.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Don't look now: Bryce Young and the Panthers offense making history
