Panthers founder, former owner Jerry Richardson dies at 86

By STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C (AP) — 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. He was 86. Richardson died peacefully at his home Wednesday night in Charlotte, according to the team. Richardson became the first former NFL player to own a team since George Halas when he landed the expansion Panthers in 1993. Richardson spent 23 years as franchise owner before selling the team for an then-NFL record $2.27 billion in 2018 after a report surfaced that four former team employees received significant monetary settlements due to inappropriate sexually suggestive language and actions by Richardson. It was also reported he used a racial slur directed toward a team scout.