Panthers' David Tepper Explains Throwing Drink at Jaguars Fan After Viral Video From 2023 NFL Season

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper threw a drink at a Jacksonville Jaguars fan amid his team's 26-0 road loss on Dec. 31, 2023.

Tepper, who was fined $300,000, provided his side of the story on Friday's edition of the Pat McAfee Show.

"In Jacksonville, the way it's set up, they can get on a chair and lean into your box," Tepper said.

"I was walking away, our player — Marquis Haynes — got knocked out on the field. The people had been harassing us the whole game, harassing, harassing, harassing. I'm just like, walk away, walk away, walk away. The guy said, 'Get your frickin' player off the field.' I couldn't take it anymore."

Haynes and Jags backup quarterback C.J. Beathard collided after a 19-yard scramble from the signal-caller. Haynes stayed down and was eventually carted off the field before being taken to Baptist Medical Center. He stayed overnight in the hospital and returned home the next day.

That game was the penultimate contest of a difficult 2023 season that saw the Panthers finish 2-15. Carolina has enjoyed brighter days since then, improving to 5-12 last year and 8-9 this season. Their 2025 record was good enough to win the NFC South, and the Panthers nearly defeated the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card round before falling 34-31.