The 2026 season is the Carolina Panthers' 32nd in the National Football League (NFL) and their third under the tandem of general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales. They will attempt to improve on their 8–9 record from 2025, make the playoffs and win the NFC South for the second consecutive season, and put an end to eight consecutive losing seasons.
Offseason Draft
+ 2026 Carolina Panthers draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes1 19 Monroe Freeling OT Georgia 2 49 Lee Hunter DT Texas Tech From Minnesota 51 Traded to the Minnesota Vikings 3 83 Chris Brazzell II WR Tennessee 4 119 Traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars 124 Traded to the Chicago Bears From Jacksonville 129 Will Lee III CB Texas A&M From Chicago 5 144 Sam Hecht C Kansas State From Tennessee via Chicago 151 Zakee Wheatley S Penn State From Miami 158 Traded to the Miami Dolphins From Minnesota 159 Traded to the Minnesota Vikings 166 Traded to the Chicago Bears From Jacksonville 6 196 Traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars From Minnesota 200 Traded to the Miami Dolphins 7227 Jackson Kuwatch LB Miami (OH) From Miami 235 Traded to the Minnesota Vikings
+ 2026 Carolina Panthers undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Haynes King QB Georgia Tech Jaylon Guilbeau CB Texas Aaron Hall DT Duke Isaia Glass OT Vanderbilt Cam Miller CB Rutgers Parker Peterson DT Wisconsin Kobe Prentice WR Baylor Albert Reese OT Mississippi State Devonta Smith CB Notre Dame Isaiah Smith OLB SMU Miles Davis RB Utah State Tywone Malone Jr. DT Ohio State Heinrich Haarberg TE Nebraska
Draft trades
Staff
Current roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap HOF vs. Arizona Cardinals W 33–30 1–0 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Recap 1 at Buffalo Bills L 14–29 1–1 Highmark Stadium Recap 2 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 34–17 2–1 EverBank Stadium Recap 3 Houston Texans W 16–13 3–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Time () Opponent Result Record Venue Network Recap 1 September 13 1:00p.m. Chicago Bears L 37–59 0–1 Bank of America Stadium Fox Recap 2 September 20 1:00p.m. at Atlanta Falcons W 34–3 1–1 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Fox Recap 3 September 27 1:00p.m. at Cleveland Browns L 18–21 1–2 Huntington Bank Field Fox Recap 4 October 4 8:20p.m. Detroit Lions W 32–26 2–2 Bank of America Stadium NBC Recap 5 Bye 6 October 18 1:00p.m. at Philadelphia Eagles Lincoln Financial Field CBS 7 October 25 1:00p.m. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Bank of America Stadium Fox 8 8:15p.m. at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field Prime Video 9 November 8 1:00p.m. Denver Broncos Bank of America Stadium CBS 10 November 15 1:00p.m. at New Orleans Saints Caesars Superdome Fox 11 November 22 1:00p.m. Baltimore Ravens Bank of America Stadium Fox 12 8:15p.m. at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Raymond James Stadium ESPN 13 December 6 4:25p.m. at Minnesota Vikings U.S. Bank Stadium CBS 14 December 13 1:00p.m. New Orleans Saints Bank of America Stadium CBS 15 December 20 1:00p.m. Cincinnati Bengals Bank of America Stadium Fox 16 December 26/27 at Pittsburgh Steelers Acrisure Stadium 17 January 3 1:00p.m. Seattle Seahawks Bank of America Stadium Fox 18 January 9/10 Atlanta Falcons Bank of America Stadium Notes Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Networks and times from Weeks 5–17 and dates from Weeks 12–17 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling, for the exception of Week 8. The date, time and network for Week 16 will be finalized by no later than the end of Week 14. The date, time and network for Week 18 will be finalized at the end of Week 17.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Chicago Bears
In the Panthers' home opener, Chicago ended up being too much for Carolina in the second half. The Bears defeated the Panthers 59–37 and they started the season 0–1 for the fifth consecutive season. The 59 points for the Bears also set a new franchise record for the most points ever allowed in a single game.
Week 2: at Atlanta Falcons
The game started off with Atlanta fumbling the ball. Chuba Hubbard scored a touchdown for Carolina, followed by a Ryan Fitzgerald field goal. In Atlanta's next possession, Devin Lloyd tipped Cooper Rush's pass intended for Brian Robinson Jr., and it was intercepted by Bobby Okereke. On the Panthers' next possession, Fitzgerald converted a field goal, to extend the lead to 10. Late in the third, Bryce Young threw a touchdown pass to Darren Waller. Rush threw a second interception, caught by Lloyd, who scored a pick-six. The Panthers won 34–3 and they improved to 1–1. This is their fourth consecutive win over the Falcons.
Week 3: at Cleveland Browns
In the first quarter, neither team managed to score. The Browns took a 10–0 lead via a Andre Szmyt field goal and a Deshaun Watson touchdown to Harold Fannin Jr., and the Panthers cut the deficit to seven after Ryan Fitzgerald converted a field goal. Fitzgerald then converted two more field goals, making it a one point game. With 4:25 remaining, Carolina reduced the deficit to five after Bryce Young threw a touchdown pass to John Metchie III, though the two-point conversion was no good. Ultimately, the Panthers were defeated 18–21, and they fall to 1–2. This is their third straight loss to the Browns.
Week 4: vs. Detroit Lions
This was the Panthers' first Sunday Night Football game at home since 2015, and their first appearance on SNF overall since 2016. In the first half, Carolina took 13–6 lead with a Chuba Hubbard rushing touchdown and a Bryce Young pass to Tetairoa McMillan. In response, Jahmyr Gibbs scored a touchdown for the Lions. Both teams exchanged field goals, resulting in a 16–16 tie at halftime. Another Hubbard touchdown run and a Fitzgerald field goal extended Carolina's lead to 10. Ultimately, the Panthers won 32–26 and improved to 2–2.
Week 6: at Philadelphia Eagles
Standings Division
Conference
References
External links