CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers signed edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to a four-year contract valued at $120 million following the 2025 season. The team's pass rush ranked 27th in sack rate during the 2025 season.

The Panthers finished the 2025 regular season with an 8-9 record. They tied for first place in the NFC South division. The team was outscored by 69 points during the season. They played in a wild-card round playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams.

The 2025 regular season ended with losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the final two games. The Panthers' offense ranked 27th in yards per pass play during the 2025 season. The defense ranked 15th in scoring.

In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected quarterback Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth overall pick. McMillan received Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. In the 2026 NFL Draft, the team selected offensive tackle Monroe Freeling in the first round and quarterback Chris Brazzell II in the third round. Wide receiver John Metchie III was signed as a free agent and Luke Fortner joined the roster at center.

Carolina has appeared in two Super Bowls in franchise history, losing to the New England Patriots in 2003 and the Denver Broncos in 2015. Eric Edholm ranked the team seventh among twelve NFL teams that had not won a Super Bowl heading into the 2026 season. The offense has not finished higher than 20th in scoring since the 2019 season.