2025 Season Opener Countdown: 99 Days To Go

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

In this series, we’ll be counting down until opening kickoff by running through the Panthers roster by jersey number. Today’s piece looks at the current and historical players to have ever donned No. 99 for the Carolina Panthers.

Current Player: Shy Tuttle

Shy Tuttle (6’3”, 300lbs) was originally undrafted out of Tennessee following the 2019 NFL Draft. He was then signed by the hated New Orleans Saints, where he spent four solid seasons. The local kid (he attended North Davidson High School in Lexington, NC) returned home in 2023, signing a three year deal for up to $19.5 million with $13 million guaranteed.

Though the Panthers would hoping he could take the next step, his production has been very similar to his seasons in New Orleans. This is the final year of his contract, so Tuttle, who will turn 30 during this season, will be playing for a new contract. Whether that is in Carolina or elsewhere remains to be seen. The return of Derrick Brown and the addition of young pass rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen should help take some of the burden off of Tuttle this season.

Previous Players to wear number 99: Matthew Ioannidis, Kawann Short, Frank Kearse, Edward Johnson, Ma’ake Kemoeatu, Brentson Buckner, Alvin McKinley, Chuck Riley, Ray Seals

Of the previous Panthers to wear 99, the best known are definitely Kawann Short and Brentson Buckner. Short wore 99 from 2013 to 2020, while Buckner sported it from 2001 to 2005. Both players were key cogs in NFC Championship defenses, Buckner in 2003 and Short in 2015. Let’s hope Shy Tuttle can join that list soon.