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. (See also the 2001 San Diego Chargers season, in which a similar situation arose when John Butler brought several former Bills with him to San Diego after being fired.)
Expansion draft
^ Made roster.[1]
NFL draft
Draft trades
- ^ a b The Panthers traded a first-round selection (1st overall) to Cincinnati in exchange for first- and second-round selections (5th and 36th overall).
- ^ The Panthers traded first-, third-, and sixth-round selections (32nd, 65th, and 173rd overall) to Green Bay in exchange for first- and sixth-round selections (22nd and 191st overall).
- ^ The Panthers traded second-, third-, and fourth-round selections (34th, 98th, and 100th overall) to San Diego in exchange for a first-round selection (29th overall).
- ^ The Panthers traded a 1996 sixth-round selection to Kansas City in exchange for a sixth-round selection (191st overall).
[2]
Personnel
Staff
1995 Carolina Panthers staff
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Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
- Strength and conditioning – Chip Morton
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[3]
Roster
Preseason
Preseason
Regular season
Season summary
Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- ATL – J. J. Birden 12-yard pass from Jeff George (Morten Andersen kick). Panthers 13–10.
- ATL – Morten Andersen 51-yard field goal. Tied 13–13.
Third quarter
- ATL – Bert Emanuel 5-yard pass from Jeff George (Morten Andersen kick). Falcons 20–13.
Fourth quarter
- CAR – Willie Green 44-yard pass from Frank Reich (John Kasay kick). Tied 20–20.
Overtime
- ATL – Morten Andersen 35-yard field goal. Falcons 23–20.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 2: at Buffalo Bills
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- CAR – John Kasay 34-yard field goal. Panthers 3–0.
- CAR – John Kasay 52-yard field goal. Panthers 6–0.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- BUF – Steve Christie 39-yard field goal. Bills 31–9.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 3: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week Three: St. Louis Rams at Carolina Panthers
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
- Date: September 17
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C)
- Game attendance: 54,060
- TV announcers (FOX): Kenny Albert, Anthony Muñoz
- Box score
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- STL – Anthony Parker 28-yard fumble return (Steve McLaughlin kick). Rams 21–3.
- STL – Steve McLaughlin 34-yard field goal. Rams 24–3.
Fourth quarter
- STL – Torin Dorn 24-yard interception return (Steve McLaughlin kick). Rams 31–3.
- CAR – Kerry Collins 1-yard run (John Kasay kick). Rams 31–10.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 5: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Five: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
- Date: October 1
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,076
- Box score
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- CAR – Derrick Moore 53-yard run (John Kasay kick). Tied 7–7.
- TB – Michael Husted 25-yard field goal. Buccaneers 10–7.
- TB – Michael Husted 27-yard field goal. Buccaneers 13–7.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- TB – Casey Weldon 1-yard run (Michael Husted kick). Buccaneers 20–13.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 6: at Chicago Bears
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- CAR – Mark Carrier 66-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Panthers 10–7.
- CHI – Keith Jennings 1-yard pass from Erik Kramer (Kevin Butler kick). Bears 14–10.
- CAR – John Kasay 49-yard field goal. Bears 14–13.
Third quarter
- CHI – Kevin Butler 23-yard field goal. Bears 17–13.
Fourth quarter
- CAR – Greg Kragen 1-yard fumble return (John Kasay kick). Panthers 20–17.
- CHI – Ryan Wetnight 1-yard pass from Erik Kramer (Kevin Butler kick). Bears 24–20.
- CAR – Eric Guliford 62-yard punt return (John Kasay kick). Panthers 27–24.
- CHI – Robert Green 1-yard run (Kevin Butler kick). Bears 31–27.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 7: vs New York Jets
Week Seven: New York Jets at Carolina Panthers
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
- Date: October 15
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 52,613
- Referee: Mike Carey
- TV: NBC
- Box score
Game information
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First quarter
- CAR – John Kasay 23-yard field goal. Panthers 3–0.
Second quarter
- NYJ – Kerry Collins tackled in ens zone by Erik Howard. Panthers 3–2.
- NYJ – Nick Lowery 50-yard field goal. Jets 5–3.
- NYJ – Mo Lewis 13-yard interception return (Nick Lowery kick). Jets 12–3.
- CAR – John Kasay 39-yard field goal. Jets 12–6.
- CAR – Sam Mills 36-yard interception return (John Kasay kick). Panthers 13–12.
Third quarter
- CAR – Vince Workman 5-yard run (John Kasay kick). Panthers 20–12.
Fourth quarter
- CAR – John Kasay 40-yard field goal. Panthers 23–12.
- NYJ – Nick Lowery 39-yard field goal. Panthers 23–15.
- CAR – John Kasay 30-yard field goal. Panthers 26–15.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Players dumped Gatorade on Dom Capers after the win.[4]
Week 8: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week Eight: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
- Date: October 22
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C)
- Game attendance: 55,484
- Box score
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- CAR – Howard Griffith 2-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Panthers 10–3.
- CAR – Howard Griffith 1-yard run (John Kasay kick). Panthers 17–3.
Fourth quarter
- CAR – John Kasay 37-yard field goal. Panthers 20–3.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 9: at New England Patriots
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- NE – Matt Bahr 19-yard field goal. Patriots 3–0.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- NE – Curtis Martin 3-yard run (Matt Bahr kick). Panthers 17–10.
- NE – Curtis Martin 2-yard run (Matt Bahr kick). Tied 17–17.
Overtime
- CAR – John Kasay 29-yard field goal. Panthers 20–17.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 10: at San Francisco 49ers
Game information
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First quarter
- CAR – John Kasay 39-yard field goal. Panthers 3–0.
- CAR – Tim McKyer 96-yard interception return (John Kasay kick). Panthers 10–0.
Second quarter
- CAR – John Kasay 47-yard field goal. Panthers 13–0.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 11: at St. Louis Rams
Week Eleven: Carolina Panthers at St. Louis Rams
at TWA Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
- Date: November 12
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (played indoors)
- Game attendance: 65,598
- Box score
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- CAR – John Kasay 23-yard field goal. Rams 14–10.
Fourth quarter
- STL – Troy Drayton 2-yard pass from Chris Miller (Dean Biasucci kick). Rams 21–10.
- STL – Torin Dorn 26-yard fumble return (Dean Biasucci kick). Rams 28–10.
- CAR – Willie Green 17-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Rams 28–17.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 12: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week Twelve: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
- Date: November 19
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C)
- Game attendance: 49,582
- Box score
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- CAR – John Kasay 42-yard field goal. Panthers 17–7.
- CAR – John Kasay 30-yard field goal. Panthers 20–7.
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 13: at New Orleans Saints
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- NO – Doug Brien 39-yard field goal. Saints 20–11.
- NO – Mario Bates 6-yard run (Doug Brien kick). Saints 27–11.
- CAR – Mark Carrier 3-yard pass from Kerry Collins (Kerry Collins pass to Bob Christian). Saints 27–19.
Fourth quarter
- NO – Derek Brown 35-yard run (Doug Brien kick). Saints 34–19.
- CAR – Mark Carrier 60-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Saints 34–26.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 14: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week Fourteen: Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- CAR – John Kasay 38-yard field goal. Panthers 13–10.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 15: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week Fifteen: San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
- Date: December 10
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C)
- Game attendance: 76,136
- Box score
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- SF – Derek Loville 1-yard run (Jeff Wilkins kick). 49ers 14–0.
- CAR – John Kasay 43-yard field goal. 49ers 14–3.
- SF – J. J. Stokes 20-yard pass from Steve Young (Jeff Wilkins kick). 49ers 21–3.
Third quarter
- CAR – Derrick Moore 2-yard run (John Kasay kick). 49ers 21–10.
- SF – Steve Young 1-yard run (Jeff Wilkins kick). 49ers 28–10.
Fourth quarter
- SF – Jeff Wilkins 20-yard field goal. 49ers 31–10.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 16: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week Sixteen: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
- Date: December 17
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C)
- Game attendance: 53,833
- Box score
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- CAR – Kerry Collins 1-yard run (John Kasay kick). Falcons 14–7.
- ATL – Morten Andersen 34-yard field goal. Falcons 17–7.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- CAR – Willie Green 89-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Panthers 21–17.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 17: at Washington Redskins
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- WAS – Eddie Murray 29-yard field goal. Redskins 10–3.
- CAR – Derrick Moore 1-yard run (John Kasay kick). Tied 10–10.
Third quarter
- WAS – Terry Allen 1-yard run (Eddie Murray kick). Redskins 17–10.
Fourth quarter
- WAS – Eddie Murray 32-yard field goal. Redskins 20–10.
- CAR – Willie Green 2-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Redskins 20–17.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Standings
Records
- Most victories by an expansion team (7)[5]
- First expansion team to have a winning record at home (5–3)[5]
- First expansion team to have a four-game winning streak (weeks 7–10)[5]
- First expansion team to defeat a defending Super Bowl champion in its inaugural season (13–7 over the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco)[5]
References
- ^ "NFL Expansion Draft". Hartford Courant. February 16, 1995. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
- ^ "NFL Draft — Team by Team". Hartford Courant. April 24, 1995. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
- ^ "Assistant Coaches". Panthers.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
- ^ "Panthers earn first victory". Gainesville Sun. October 16, 1995. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
- ^ a b c d NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 92
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Culture and lore | |
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Rivalries | |
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Hall of Honor | |
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Wild card berths (2) | |
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Division championships (6) | |
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Conference championships (2) | |
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Retired numbers | |
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Media | |
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Current league affiliations | |
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