Sophia Michaels
Jerry Richardson, the former founder of the Carolina Panthers, has passed away at the age of 86. The NFL team announced the news on their website, but did not disclose the cause of death. Current Panthers owners, David and Nicole Tepper, released a joint statement expressing their gratitude for Richardson’s contributions to the sport and the Panthers organization. They said, “Jerry Richardson’s contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic. With the Panthers’ arrival in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave NFL fans something to call their own. We are thankful for his graciousness when we purchased the team.”
Richardson had a lifelong passion for football, which led him to play for the Baltimore Colts for two seasons. His career was unfortunately cut short due to a disagreement over money. Nevertheless, Richardson returned to football as the founder and owner of the Panthers. Despite his success, Richardson faced various health struggles and misconduct allegations throughout his life, according to The New York Post. In 2017, he announced he was selling the Panthers, which were later purchased by the Teppers. Even though he is gone, Richardson will be remembered for his work with the Panthers and for setting up a strong foundation for the team’s success.
