After making waves by drafting Bryce Young as the No. 1 pick, the Carolina Panthers faced a downward spiral. The challenges prompted owner David Tepper to part ways with head coach Frank Reich, despite a significant financial commitment, following a dismal 1-10 start to the season.
Despite the coaching change, the Panthers couldn’t reverse their fortunes. The crushing defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, leading to an NFL-worst 2-14 record, seemed to push Tepper past the brink of frustration.
David Tepper reportedly appears to toss drink at Jaguars fans
In what already seemed like a challenging season for David Tepper, his actions in Jacksonville on Sunday further exacerbated their troubles. During the Panthers-Jaguars game, the team owner was caught on video seemingly tossing a drink from his suite at a Jacksonville fan who appeared to be heckling him.
The viral video circulating on social media captured the moment when a frustrated Tepper, along with Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer, emptied his drink into the stands before discarding the cup. The fan in the adjacent suite donned Jaguars gear, stood up, and peered into Tepper’s box, ending the video at that point.
A Panthers spokesperson declined to comment on the incident, and the NFL acknowledged the existence of the video without providing additional remarks.
“We are aware of the video and have no further comment at this time,” the statement reads.
The incident occurred after Carolina’s rookie quarterback Bryce Young threw a crucial fourth-quarter interception, leading to the Panthers’ first shutout in 342 games for 21 years, dating back to 2002.
The shutout loss against the Jaguars not only dropped the Panthers to a 2-14 record with one game left in the season but also secured the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft for the Chicago Bears.
In March, the Panthers made significant moves, including trading their 2024 first-round pick, 2023 first-round (No. 9) and second-round (No. 61) picks, along with wide receiver DJ Moore, to the Bears for the 2023 No. 1 pick, which allowed them to draft Bryce Young. Nevertheless, Young’s performance has not lived up to expectations, and the Panthers have faced their sixth consecutive losing season.
How long has David Tepper owned the Panthers?
David Tepper’s ownership of the Panthers has been marked by controversy, challenges, and significant changes since his acquisition of the team in 2018. The billionaire hedge fund manager purchased the Panthers from Jerry Richardson in a historic $2.3 billion deal, per Forbes.
Richardson’s decision to sell the team was prompted by allegations of sexual and racial harassment during his ownership tenure. Meanwhile, in the year 2023, the Panthers’ franchise was valued at 4.1 billion U.S. dollars.
Tepper stepped in with high hopes, but the Panthers have struggled to achieve success under his ownership. Since Tepper took over in 2018, the Panthers have faced a daunting 31-67 record, ranking as the second-worst in the NFL during that period. Disappointingly, the team has failed to secure a playoff spot or produce a winning record in any season under Tepper’s ownership.
Tepper’s leadership has also been marked by swift changes in coaching staff. He has fired three head coaches in-season since 2019, including the recent dismissals of Frank Reich and Matt Rhule. Before the Reich era, Rhule faced termination after a 1-4 start in the previous season.
Meanwhile, Tepper’s influence extends beyond the NFL; he also owns Charlotte FC, a Major League Soccer (MLS) team. However, even in the field of soccer, his decisions have faced criticism. In November, head coach Christian Lattanzio was fired despite leading the team to the playoffs in its second year.
Beyond sports ownership, Tepper is renowned as one of the greatest hedge fund managers of his generation. He founded Appaloosa Management in 1993, managing a significant portfolio.
Now with the Panthers out from the playoff, their owner grabbed the attention to ket the NFL fans remind that an NFL team named Panthers exists.
