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"Jerry Richardson brought NFL football to the Carolinas!'' In 2000, wide receiver Rae Carruth, a former first-round draft pick, was convicted on a murder conspiracy charge in connection with the drive-by shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend. I'd been here for one season and we'd won six games. Charlotte had already become a professional sports town with the arrival of the NBA's Hornets in 1988, but those were the days when the city struggled to build an identity as anything other than a regional outpost, still confused with Charleston, S.C. or Charlottesville, Va., and years from becoming a national banking center. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. 5:26 PM on Mar 2, 2023 CST. He took the money earned from that game and started the first Hardee's franchise in Spartanburg. '', We are saddened to hear about the passing of former owner Jerry Richardson. Richardson would set several Wofford receiving records on his way to a career that led the school to retire his football number. Jerry Richardson, the former Carolina Panthers owner who sold the team amid accusations of workplace misconduct, and his wife Rosalind have donated $5 million to Charleston's International . Richardson never addressed the allegations against him publicly. Richardson had hired and fired two coaches Dom Capers, who got Carolina to the NFC championship game in Year 2 but could not repeat the success; and George Seifert, who went 16-32 in three desultory seasons in Carolina. . The new mayor has the power to physically remake the city or large portions of it. Read what head coach Frank Reich said to the media during his press conference at the Combine on Wednesday. Jon, Mark, and Ashley Richardson Allen are her three children. Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson died Wednesday night at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jerry Richardson and wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson established a $500,000 fully endowed scholarship to Winthrop. He played football at Fayetteville High 6-3, 150-pound receiver known as Stick for his slender frame who won the teams Competitor Trophy. I was told, 'You can't make money selling hamburgers for 15 cents.' A former teammate of Johnny Unitas who caught a touchdown pass in the Baltimore Colts' victory over the New York Giants in the 1959 NFL championship game, Richardson only spent two years in the NFL before venturing into the restaurant business. "Mr. Richardson taught me so many life lessons over the years and I will forever be grateful for the friendship and the bond that we had. After purchasing the Panthers, Tepper said he was contractually obligated to keep the statue of Richardson, flanked by two panthers, outside of the downtown Charlotte stadium that Richardson built. It was truly a special experience to play a part in the culmination of his efforts to bring football to the Carolinas. The team reached the Super Bowl in the 2003 and 2015 seasons, but lost both times. "The point of the story is not so much about T.J. and our family, as much as it was the love of the man, and the love he had for a player he didn't owe a lot to. The founder and former owner of the Panthers passed away on Wednesday night. He was my boss. His mother worked as a sales clerk at a womens dress shop. Fox said from the NFL combine in Indianapolis. "Jerry Richardson's contributions to professional football in the Carolina's are historic,'' current owners David and Nicole Tepper said in a statement. All about former Carolina Panthers owners, net worth, statue, scandals and more. I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons. Sports columnist Scott Fowler has written for The Charlotte Observer since 1994. To see what the Panthers are today, that's truly a testament to his vision.". He died at his home in Charlotte on Wednesday night, the team said in a statement Thursday. Richardson founded the. But Richardsons reputation took a tremendous hit when he announced he was selling the Panthers on Dec. 17, 2017, the same day Sports Illustrated reported that four former Panthers employees received significant monetary settlements due to inappropriate sexually suggestive language and actions by Richardson. During its very 1st season, he triumphed over the NFL Super Bowl. Along the way, decisions were made that changed the face of sports business. The former president of the Panthers stadium was their son Jon Richardson. Mark Richardson was the team president and the heir apparent to his father, while the more laid-back Jon Richardson oversaw the stadium during its construction and operation. Funeral services will be private. Scoring in a world championship game is about the ultimate as far as a player is concerned.. Jerry Richardson, the founder of the American football team Carolina Panthers, has died at the age of 86 He is survived by his wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson and three children - Ashley, Jon, and Mark Nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild are also included in his family Written By: Alfeeya Mohsin Pathan CHARLOTTE, N.C Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFL's most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. Career Richardson stepped into NFL draft in 1959 and got selected in the thirteenth round by the supremacy victors the Baltimore Colts. Net Worth: $2 Billion. Also Read: What is enlarged heart? He'd drop in on restaurants from time to time to check up, sticking his head in the drive-through line to surprise customers and employees alike. Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFL's most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? Jerome "Jerry" Richardson, the founding owner of the Carolina Panthers franchise, passed away on Wednesday night at his Charlotte home at the age of 86. When Richardson heard the news in Chicago on Oct. 26, 1993, that his bid had been accepted to own the NFLs 29th franchise, he pointed to television cameras from the Carolinas at a press conference and yelled: Thank you, thank you, thank you!. His height is 1.91 m tall, and his weight is 84 kg. Richardson knew that his physical presence inside a store had a way of motivating his employees. After he had a heart transplant in Charlotte in 2009, Richardson lived for 14 more years. There, he began creating the emphasis on customer service that would carry over into his stewardship of his football team. "And he went above and beyond to bring comfort to a family at its toughest time.". That would be real boring.. Please keep the Richardson family in your prayers today! pic.twitter.com/9Cjn0PSYW2. He was 86. With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave NFL fans here a team to call their own. "He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. Carruth was imprisoned for 16 years. Richardson was insistent on his stadium being financed privately. I said, Yes sir, it did. He said, thats a good thing everything will be OK. And then he hung up the phone.. He married Rosalind Sallenger Richardson. The financing plan got an enormous boost, however, due to the permanent-seat license (PSL) concept created by public relations guru Muhleman (who had also helped birth the Hornets). Giants co-owner John Mara once told Richardson during the intense labor talks, according to the MMQB website: I dont know whose heart you got, but that had to be a tough son of a bitch.. The Panthers' 2017 Tree Lighting at Bank of America Stadium. One former female employee recalled Richardson arriving barefoot and asking for a foot massage.. But his fourth-quarter, 12-yard TD catch from Unitas gave the Colts a 21-9 lead in a game they would win 31-16. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade), Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, right, introduces the team's new coach, Ron Rivera, left, during a news conference in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011. After a bad first half, Richardson caught several passes in the second half from Johnny Unitas and made the team. They would later marry and have three children. Jerry Richardsons contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful.. Richardsons legacy also includes the birth of the Panthers and the development of a restaurant empire that made him a rich enough man to join one of Americas most exclusive clubs the leagues 32 NFL owners. March 2, 2023 / 5:16 PM / AP. 1 overall in 2011 for fear it would impact his image. That allegiance to the league and his status within it also made him one of the lead voices for owners in the 2010 labor negotiations, in which he famously and sometimes profanely clashed with players across the table including Peyton Manning. On game days, he'd ride around Bank of America Stadium in his golf cart, greeting fans and taking pictures, relishing the moments. Jansen Panettieres cause of death revealed by Hayden Panettiere and his family. The Richardsons have a total of nine grandchildren. He used his championship bonus money to open the first Hardee's in Spartanburg, South Carolina close to where he had attended Wofford College. pic.twitter.com/9Cjn0PSYW2. Mr. Richardson is a native Carolinian, whose dream was to bring NFL football and the world championship he knew as a player in the . He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. Still, Richardson often began his days at that point, at age 51, by showing up unannounced at one of the Hardees in Spartanburg, and either making biscuits, pouring coffee or taking orders at the drive-thru. But Richardson also showed compassion for his players. Jerry Richardson is Businessman, public benefactor, former NFL player from Spring Hope, North Carolina, United States. Email Scott at sfowler@charlotteobserver.com or call him at 704-358-5140, Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Charlotte area sports - only $1 a month. The Carolina Panthers defeated the New York Giants 23 to 0. In 2000, wide receiver Rae Carruth, the teams first-round draft pick in 1997, was convicted on a murder conspiracy charge in connection with the drive-by shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend. His survivors include his wife Rosalind and two of their three children Mark and Ashley. Muhleman noted the drive that Richardson exhibited in his relentless pursuit of making Carolina the NFLs 29th franchise. Heather ODonnell of the Chicago social services agency Thresholds says the money is an opportunity to really build up substance use care.. "I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons," Rivera posted. Will Buffalo Bills' Nyheim Hines be fined for 'Santa's Helpers' elf cleats during Chicago Bears Christmas tie? Delhomme recalls getting a phone call from Richardson a couple of days after he had a disastrous four-turnover performance in a 33-13 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs in the 2008 season. The lack of consistency irritated Richardson, as Carolina failed to put together back-to-back winning seasons during his 23 seasons as owner despite hiring four coaches: Dom Capers, George Seifert, John Fox and Ron Rivera. When Carolina received an NFL team from the League in 1993, Richardson became the second former NFL player to hold the position of the owner. How could you ever forget that? Richardson said in the 1995 interview with The Observer. "The Carolina Panthers are a testament to his extraordinary and tireless dedication to the community. I dont know whether youd call it stubbornness or not, Richardson later told the Observer. The team went for a then NFL record $2.275 billion. Id call it sticking to your convictions.. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 1:08 Jerry Richardson, founder of the Carolina Panthers, has died. When linebacker Thomas Davis retired in 2021, he thanked Richardson for believing in him and keeping him on the roster despite having suffered three torn ACLs in the same knee. Richardson served on several high-level owners committees, playing a key role in labor negotiations with the players union. Richardson served on several high-level owners committees, playing a key role in labor negotiations with the players union. That would serve as the seed money for a hugely successful fast-food franchise that would lead to Richardson bringing an NFL franchise to the Carolinas. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Jerry Richardson, the former Baltimore Colts wide receiver who later founded and owned the Carolina Panthers until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. I've been told a lot of things.". Playing for the Browns that day was offensive tackle Mike McCormack, whom Richardson would later hire as the Panthers first president. . The team said that moving the statue is in the interest of public safety. It has never returned. After purchasing the Panthers, Tepper said he was contractually obligated to keep the statue of Richardson, flanked by two panthers, outside of the downtown Charlotte stadium that Richardson built. It ultimately took eight years from Richardson beginning the effort to the Panthers actually beginning play. Jon Richardson died of cancer in 2013. CHARLOTTE, N.C -- Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFLs most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. Richardson beat long odds to earn the right to land a franchise. "I didn't pay any attention to it. Richardson became the first former NFL player to own a team since Chicago's George Halas when he landed the expansion Panthers in 1993. An only child, Richardson had a modest upbringing. He was 86. Foxs greatest success came in 2003, when a team with Jake Delhomme at quarterback and young stars like Steve Smith at wide receiver and Julius Peppers at defensive end made an unlikely run to the Super Bowl before losing on a last-second field goal to the New England Patriots, 32-29. Richardson built a food empire from scratch, starting the Hardees hamburger chain with $4,864 in 1961 with playoff bonus money he earned for playing on the Baltimore Colts 1959 NFL championship team. Rosalind Sallenger Richardson; the wife of former player and current team owner, Jerome Johnson Richardson, simply known as Jerry Richardson; he is the owner of the Carolina Panthers. Winthrop actually couldn't have welcomed someone better for their future, despite the fact that she probably appeared to be just another student at the moment. Wofford offered Richardson a partial scholarship worth less than $300, and he took it. Their football stadium already had a name, but the school's new basketball arena and athletic facility still bear his, as does the football stadium at UNC Charlotte. He was 86. That team went 15-1 in the regular season but would eventually lose to Denver in the Super Bowl, 24-10, as the championship Richardson wanted the most barely eluded him again. , , , Tunisha Sharma , , Jerry Richardson, the founder of the American football team Carolina Panthers, has died at the age of 86, He is survived by his wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson and three children - Ashley, Jon, and Mark, Nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild are also included in his family. A PSL would cost anywhere from $600 to $5400 per ticket and could later be re-sold or handed down in the right-holders will. Richardsons legacy was forever changed when Sports Illustrated magazine published an investigative report just minutes before kickoff on a Sunday the Panthers were hosting the Green Bay Packers Dec. 17, 2017. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. The following day Richardson would tell a pep rally of thousands of fans in Charlotte that the Panthers would not only get to but win a Super Bowl within their first 10 years an unfulfilled promise that he was often reminded of in later years. On the NFL's behalf, I extend our sincere condolences to Jerry's wife, Rosalind, and their family. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. He began to slow down as he entered his mid-60s, battling heart issues. He believed in me when no one else did. Unitas took a personal interest in Richardson, picking up the young receiver every morning on his way to practice and bringing him home at the end of the day. Jerry Richardson, Panthers founder and former owner, dies at 86, Jaxon Smith-Njigba wants to re-create connection with Bears QB Justin Fields, NFL Scouting Combine shifts mock draft, but Bears needs unchanged, QBs in NFL Draft in haze as Bears play poker with No. The promise came close to coming true during the 2003 season. Richardson was . At Wofford, Richardson majored in psychology, worked as a dormitory hall manager and joined the ROTC. He enlisted sports marketing executive Max Muhleman, and they put in place the first permanent seat license concept, in which fans paid an up-front fee for access to season tickets. But Richardson still had the $4,864 bonus he earned from the Colts 1959 championship. Former Pro Bowl linebacker Thomas Davis, who played for Carolina from 2005 to 2018, summed up what many players thought of Richardson with this post on Instagram. Rajeeta Kochhar? He used his championship bonus money to open the first Hardees in Spartanburg, South Carolina close to where he had attended Wofford College. In a two-sentence statement at the time that didnt explain the mysterious parting, Richardson cited the great contributions his sons had made, but expressed confidence in the remaining members of the leadership team. Two months after going on the donor waiting list, Richardson, then 72, received his transplant on Super Bowl Sunday in 2009 during a five-hour procedure at Carolinas Medical Center. Richardson developed a friendship with some of his Panthers players -- some, like former wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, would approach him for business advice when their career were over. He was 86. They have three children. Before that, Richardson was revered for bringing the Panthers to the NFL in 1995 and helping the team reach Super Bowls after the 2003 and 2015 seasons. "Jerry Richardson's contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic," current Panthers owner David Tepper and his wife Nicole said in a statement. We are saddened to hear about the passing of former owner Jerry Richardson, the Panthers said via Twitter on Thursday afternoon. 2 days ago By then, Richardson had become a generally popular owner with his players and was doing the Panthers job full-time, having left the day-to-day restaurant business in 1995. From a personal perspective, he was a wise and caring advisor to me, his fellow owners, and many Panthers players and coaches over the years.". The stadium was named "Jerry Richardson Stadium" after his donation of $10 Million. CHARLOTTE Jerry Richardson, the founder of the Carolina Panthers, passed away Wednesday night at age 86. On Thursday afternoon, the Carolina Panthers announced the passing of team founder and former owner Jerry Richardson. In February 2021, Richardson made a $150 million gift to Wofford, pushing his personal contributions to the school to over a quarter of a billion dollars. After growing up in the Fayetteville area, Richardson went to Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C.; where he excelled in football and laid the groundwork for a business empire that would allow him to return to the game he once walked away from. If wed known then how long it would take, we never would have done it, Richardson said in 1995, on the eve of the Panthers first game. The family is planning a private funeral service. But when you get to some of them, the word moves fast to the rest of them.. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He owned the franchise from its inception in 1995 until 2018 when he sold it to David and Nicole Tepper. But Richardson's reputation took a tremendous hit when he announced he was selling the Panthers on Dec. 17, 2017, -- the same day Sports Illustrated reported that four former Panthers employees received significant monetary settlements due to inappropriate sexually suggestive language and actions by Richardson. Richardson pulled down an 8-yard pass from Unitas for his first NFL touchdown in a 38-31 loss to Cleveland on Nov. 1, 1959. Carolina earned high marks in several key areas in survey, which rated various aspects of players' experience from strength coaches and the locker room to treatment of families. He served on some of the league's most prestigious committees and had become one of the more powerful owners. Former tight end Greg Olsen posted a four-minute video on Twitter, saying when Richardson learned his unborn son had a serious heart defect he insisted on flying his family to Boston Medical Center in his own personal jet so they could receive the best medical advice. The family did not list a cause of death. He never publicly explained the rift with his sons. He was 86. But Richardsons tenure was marred by off-field issues. Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints weather report: What is the temperature at FirstEnergy stadium? We are saddened to hear about the passing of former owner Jerry Richardson. Fowler has earned 20 national APSE writing awards and hosted The Observers podcast Carruth, which Sports Illustrated named 2018s Podcast of the Year. His new podcast and online series is called Sports Legends of the Carolinas and features 1-on-1 interviews with NC and SC sports icons. "The odds against us were huge. The team reached the Super Bowl in the 2003 and 2015 seasons, but lost both times. RIP Mr. Richardson pic.twitter.com/o27b6O5Czt. "The NFL community is deeply saddened by the passing of Jerry Richardson," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement Thursday. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? I was told I couldn't get my company on the New York Stock Exchange before I was 40. The Panthers decided to charge for the right to buy season tickets in their proposed new stadium a radical idea that later helped build many other stadiums around the country. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images). I am truly heartbroken and sad over the loss of my friend. He was not a close personal friend at the time. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton), NFL comissioner Roger Goodell, left, and Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson walk together during a break at an NFL owners meeting in Irving, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. Jerry Richardsons contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic, current Panthers owner David Tepper and his wife Nicole said in a statement. Lets just say I wasnt bursting with optimism, Richardson told The Observer in a 1995 story. Richardson was born in Spring Hope, North Carolina, in 1936. Richardson ended the 59 regular season with seven receptions and three touchdowns, but saved his most memorable play for the title game against the New York Giants (the Super Bowl did not yet exist). He and his wife have two sons, Mark and Jon. But I was a player on his team who needed help and he was able to provide it. Even in his later years, Richardsons posture showcased what Muhleman called a flawless vertical carriage that made him the tallest 6-foot-3 on the planet.. He visited every owner in the league all 28 of them at least once, Muhleman said, and sought out the brilliant retired NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle at his California home. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? His contributions to Wofford to date total more than $260 million, including capital upgrades. People had said it was 150-to-1, 200-to-1. The Dallas Cowboys will place the franchise tag on running back Tony Pollard if the two sides cannot reach a long-term deal before March 7's deadline, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday, per sources. Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson watches players warm up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. It was also reported he used a racial slur directed toward a team scout. But his league-first attitude as seen through his leadership of numerous NFL committees helped pave the way for a series of public-private stadium partnerships throughout the country, and collective bargaining agreements that continue to support the growth of the game. "I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons," Rivera said on social media. He fired a number of Richardson-era employees after his purchase and also quickly changed the 50-yard line symbol to the Panthers logo. CHARLOTTE Jerry Richardson, the founder of the Carolina Panthers, passed away Wednesday night at age 86. The NFL fined Richardson a league-record $2.75 million after its probe concluded, nearly tripling the amount of its previous record fine of $1 million. He gave me a chance when no one else would! A family spokesman said Thursday that Richardson died peacefully last night at his Charlotte home.. He made the greatest gift in Wofford Colleges history in 2021 when he gave $150 million to the institution. He made his private plane available to tight end Greg Olsen before Olsens wife delivered a son who was born with a congenital heart defect. The Richardsonslived in North Carolina their entire lives. The team said that "moving the statue is in the interest of public safety." If he succeeded, he would become only the second NFL owner ever to both play in the league and own a team the other being George Halas. The Panthers began playing in 1995 and Richardson owned them until 2018, when he sold the team under pressure to current owner David Tepper. It was a stormy night, she said then. And defensive end Greg Hardy was suspended after he was arrested for communicating threats after allegedly throwing his girlfriend on to furniture and threatening to kill her. Within hours of the report, Richardson announced his decision to sell the team. They played miniature golf in Myrtle Beach on their first date. In the late 1950s, Rosalind Sallenger Richardson studied at Winthrop University. He did so with lots of help, including the necessary financial backing from close friend and Charlotte mega-banker Hugh McColl Jr. Richardsons son Mark was also instrumental in the effort. The team said that moving the statue is in the interest of public safety. It has never returned. The lack of consistency was a source of irritation for Richardson, as Carolina failed to put together back-to-back winning seasons during his 23 seasons as owner despite hiring four coaches: Dom Capers, George Seifert, John Fox and Ron Rivera. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. The NFL expansion process was painstaking. Three months later, running back Fred Lane, who had just been traded to Indianapolis, was shot and killed by his wife in their Charlotte home. The Olsens honored Richardson by naming their son T.J., short for Trent Jerry. Richardson and Rosalind moved into an apartment close to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore with their infant son, Jon. Please check your email for a confirmation. On Thursday afternoon, the Carolina Panthers announced the passing of team founder and former owner Jerry Richardson. Richardson became the first former NFL player to own a team since Chicagos George Halas when he landed the expansion Panthers in 1993. One of our dear friends said, God does not give out hearts lightly, Rosalind Richardson told The Observer two weeks after the surgery. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. The Panthers were the first team to employ the concept, and the influx of cash was crucial to privately financing what was then known as Carolinas Stadium. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. John Fox, who coached the Panthers from 2002 to 2010 and led them to the Super Bowl in 2003, told ESPN on Thursday that he and his family are "thankful'' for the opportunity Richardson gave them. The concept was simple cheap hamburgers, served to the masses and wildly successful. The Spring Hope, North Carolina, native spent years trying to persuade the NFL to put a team in the Carolinas, ultimately succeeding through a relatively original concept of funding a new stadium through the sales of permanent seat licenses. He was 86. Here's everything we know, Everything you need to know about Geno Smith's contract negotiations, The most memorable pre-NFL draft workouts ever: Coaches, scouts, execs make their picks, 2023 NFL franchise tag tracker: Raiders tag Josh Jacobs, the NFL's rushing leader. Richardsons bid for an NFL team had to at first beat out a competing bid for a Charlotte team from Shinn.