Inside the Carolina Panthers’ Struggle with Owner David Tepper

In May 2018, at the Whitley Hotel in Atlanta – formerly known as the Ritz-Carlton (Buckhead) – Dave Tepper made sports history by playing one of the most epic games of “Big Bank Take Little Bank” ever. He purchased the Carolina Panthers for a then-record $2.275 billion…in CASH.

“I’m thrilled about this. It’s more than fantastic,” he said.

There are rich people. There are wealthy people. And then there are the ones like Tepper. But just because you’re part of the one percent, it doesn’t mean you have any idea of how to run an NFL franchise. Because on that spring day in Atlanta, Tepper also foreshadowed how bad he’d be at this new job.

“I don’t know exactly what’s there, because I haven’t been there,” he added. “So for me to speak about exactly what I’m going to do is almost impossible.

“But for me, I’ve had a business for 21 years and I believe in equality for everybody, including men and women.

“The past is the past, and the future will be that.”

At the time, the Panthers were coming off a successful run in previous years, but then Tepper showed up. The Panthers haven’t had a winning season since. The franchise is on its third head coach since he’s been in control, and his most recent hire might be on the hot seat. Panthers fans are disgruntled for a reason.

After Tepper’s front office fired Ron Rivera, they made a “splash” by hiring a college coach with a high-powered offense, choosing then-Baylor head coach Matt Rhule. He didn’t last three seasons and the team’s performance has suffered. Now Frank Reich is the man in charge, and it isn’t going well in his first year.

“The Frank Reich era has officially entered mundane mode at 1-9,” Panthers beat writers from the Charlotte Observer recently wrote. “After weeks of wishful thinking and the slightest slivers of hope, the Panthers have officially revealed who they are: a misguided, mistake-riddled group with few answers to their plethora of pointed questions.”

Now, let’s address that “I believe in equality” statement Tepper made back in 2018.

“He’s in a position to be in consideration for that position,” Tepper said about Steve Wilks when he was named as the interim coach when Rhule was fired. “I had a talk with Steve, no promises were made, but if he does an incredible job, he has to be in consideration.”

However, Tepper failed to follow through on his commitment to equality when he ultimately hired Reich over Wilks, indicating a lack of genuine consideration for the former. This pattern extends to other hires within the organization, casting doubt on Tepper’s claimed commitment to breaking up the NFL’s “old boys’ network.”

Last year, Forbes had Tepper listed as one of the richest owners in all of sports, with a net worth of approximately $18 billion. However, this financial success does not necessarily translate to effective management. Despite his financial prowess, Tepper’s decisions have resulted in a revolving door of coaching and quarterback changes, signaling instability in the organization.