Panthers Owner David Tepper Praised by Rival Exec for Taking Step Back After Criticism

A rival executive doesn't believe it's a coincidence the Carolina Panthers' on-field fortunes have improved after team owner David Tepper became a less visible presence.

"We went from seeing this guy five or six times the last few years during the season — tipping cups, doing whatever — to not seeing him at all," the exec told The Athletic's Mike Sando. "It is a huge improvement. He's done a great job and deserves credit for it."

The Panthers were a mess after Tepper bought the franchise ahead of the 2018 season. They posted a losing record for seven straight years and cycled through four different permanent head coaches (Ron Rivera, Matt Rhule, Frank Reich and Dave Canales). The owner reportedly exerted a lot of influence in the decision to select quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 pick in 2023.

Beyond that, Tepper was generating some bad headlines for himself.

The NFL fined him $300,000 in January 2024 for throwing a drink in the direction of some Jacksonville Jaguars during a game. A few months later, he walked inside and approached an employee from Dilworth Neighborhood Grille, a restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina, that changed its marquee to read, "Please let the coach & GM pick this year."

The Charlotte Observer's Scott Fowler reported in June 2024 that Tepper was being told behind the scenes to dial it back a bit, especially with the Panthers trying to secure public funds to renovate their stadium.

"Tepper has gotten a lot of advice — including in this corner — to stay out of the fray more often because he's hurt himself and his reputation in Charlotte several times when he wades in," Fowler said. "Let the coaches coach and the GMs draft. Let the team execs do the stadium deal. He's doing all that now, for the moment, and the proposal likely has a better chance to pass because of it."

Bad ownership often begets bad results. Tepper deserves credit for seeming to listen to those around him and adapting his management style and overall demeanor.