Panthers Legend Named Hall of Fame Semifinalist for First Time

Two Carolina Panthers legends are one step closer to football immortality as linebacker Luke Kuechly and wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. were named Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists for the Class of 2025.

This is a special nomination for Kuechly as he was one of six first-time eligible players to make it to the next round. 

Kuechly will wait to see if he and Smith Sr. will make it to the 15 finalists round, which will be announced next month. The former ninth-overall pick had an outstanding eight-year career with the Panthers, making him one of the best players in the 2010s.

The 6-foot-3 linebacker was named to the Pro Bowl seven times, won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, and was a seven-time member of the All-Pro team. The former Panthers star also won Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, and that was only his second year in the league.

During that season, Kuechly dominated the competition, producing 156 combined tackles, 10 tackles for loss, seven pass deflections, four interceptions, two sacks, and two quarterback hits. Kuechly averaged 158 combined tackles over his first three seasons in the league.

That said, Kuechly has some tough competition among the first-time eligible players to advance to the finalists' portion. The other first-time eligible players are former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, former Baltimore Ravens pass rusher Terrell Suggs, and New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri.

Manning, Suggs, and Vinatieri played during the same era as Kuechly and had special moments in their career, making this one of the tougher selections. Nevertheless, Carolina fans hope Kuechly and Smith Sr. get the call as they try to join Julius Peppers and Sam Mills, who have been inducted in two out of the last three years.

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