We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!
There are 69 days until the first game of the season for the Carolina Panthers. Today’s piece looks at the history of the number 69 jersey, which no player is currently wearing per Panthers.com.
Only three players have worn the number 69 jersey for more than a season. Those players are defensive end Les Miller, left tackle and team legend Jordan Gross, and center Tyler Larsen. They, and a few other one year players like defensive end Jared Allen, wore this jersey for 22 out of the Panthers 30 years.
In many ways, the Panthers have been trying to replace Gross since his retirement. The team has had leaders and it even now has a multi-year starter at left tackle in Ikem Ekwonu, but it has never replaced Gross' combination of character, leadership, and competence in one player.
As a player, he was a reasonably reliable back up center who helped the team transition on from the stalwart tenure of Ryan Kalil. He was also a Ron Rivera guy who followed the former Panthers head coach to Washington with a bunch of other former Panthers. Larsen lasted another three seasons with the Commanders before retiring from the NFL.