Carolina Panthers and Greg Olsen mutually agree to part ways
By Luke Tucker
On Thursday evening Greg Olsen and the Carolina Panthers mutually agreed to part ways ahead of the 2020 season.
For the first time since 2011 the Carolina Panthers will enter the season without Greg Olsen on the roster. The soon-to-be 36-year-old has been a member of the Panthers throughout the entirety of Cam Newton’s NFL career, and has been one of the best and most consistent offensive players the team has ever had. Olsen was a leader both on and off the field during his time in Carolina, and has been a fan-favorite for quite some time now.
Olsen stated towards the end of the 2019 season that he hoped to continue playing beyond this past season. The former first-round pick will have plenty of potential employers regardless of whether he decides to continue his NFL career elsewhere, or pursue a full-time broadcasting career–something he has expressed sincere interest in on countless occasions over the past few years. No matter what Olsen decides to do, one thing is for sure: he will be missed in Carolina.
In nine seasons with the Panthers, Olsen set numerous franchise tight end records, and ranks among the leaders in total receiving numbers.
Throughout his nearly decade-long tenure with the Panthers, Olsen quickly established himself as one of Newton’s top weapons. In fact, some could make the argument that he was the team’s best offensive player since he arrived back in 2011. During his nine years with the team, he caught 524 passes for 6,463 yards–both of which are franchise records for tight ends. Olsen trails only Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad in the two respective categories. Olsen’s 39 receiving touchdowns rank second behind only Wesley Walls among tight ends, and are good enough for fourth on the franchise’s all-time list.
During his time in Carolina, Olsen made the Pro Bowl three times, and was named a second-team All-Pro in each of the same three years. He recorded three-straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2014 to 2016, becoming the first tight end to ever accomplish the feat. Only four tight ends in NFL history have more receiving yards than Olsen, as he has undoubtedly entrenched himself as one of the greatest in his era, if not of all-time.
Olsen’s retirement marks yet another example of the “changing of the guard” in Carolina this offseason.
The most obvious point of turnover for the 2020 season is the fact that the Panthers have a new head coach for the first time since 2011. Owner David Tepper fired long-time coach Ron Rivera in early December, then showed immense faith in Matt Rhule, a coach from the college ranks, by giving him one of the largest deals for any rookie head coach ever. Rhule’s staff is almost entirely different from what Rivera had, and could be a reason for the departures of Olsen and Luke Kuechly.
In speaking of Kuechly, he is the other major exit so far this offseason. Kuechly announced his retirement on January 14th; however, he has since expressed interest in returning to the Panthers in a coaching or advisory role. Like Olsen, Kuechly had been a mainstay in the Carolina locker room over the better part of the last decade, and leaves a massive void to fill on the defensive side of the ball. A third possible major departure would be that of Newton, although speculation remains surrounding his future with the organization. Trading Newton would save the Panthers $19 million next season, while the exits of Kuechly and Olsen save a combined $15.4 million.
With all of the change coming to the franchise, it truly is a new day in Carolina. Since buying the Panthers prior to the start of the 2018 season, Tepper has hired his first coach, implemented the use of analytics and sports sciences, launched construction on state-of-the-art practice facilities, and plans to construct a new, retractable-roofed stadium in the near future. Gone are the days where Jerry Richardson ran the team as a “traditional business.” Tepper is modernizing the Panthers through his own vision, whether you like it or not.