The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation supported the first-of-its-kind in Mecklenburg County project, which offers urgent care for behavioral health needs. Although Richardson once promised the Panthers would win a Super Bowl "within 10 years" of beginning play in 1995, they never did. Richardson was well liked by his players. Richardson founded the. 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. Ralph Waclawicz/Call (212) 686-8900 or e-mail info@wireimage.com to license WireImage images. No cause was given for Richardson's death. He overcame prostate cancer and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2002. Richardson never addressed the allegations against him publicly. In 23 NFL seasons with Richardson as owner, the Panthers qualified for two Super Bowls, in the 2003 and 2015 postseason, although they lost both games. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. He sold the team to Tepper, a hedge fund owner, in May 2018 for a then-NFL record $2.27 billion. He played football at Fayetteville High 6-3, 150-pound receiver known as Stick for his slender frame who won the teams Competitor Trophy. He and I spent a tremendous amount of time talking about his vision for what the Panthers could do for the Carolinas. Richardson then accompanied the Olsens to Boston for a medical consultation. 1 pick, Jalen Carter arrest throws Bears a hittable curve, NFL Combine notes: Illini CB Witherspoon the complete package, Trade down? Richardsons playing career lasted only two seasons when he walked away from the game at 25 following a dispute over $250. Playing for the Browns that day was offensive tackle Mike McCormack, whom Richardson would later hire as the Panthers first president. 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. Nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild are also included in their family. 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. , , , 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. I am truly heartbroken and sad over the loss of my friend. pic.twitter.com/9Cjn0PSYW2. I said, Yes sir, it did. He said, thats a good thing everything will be OK. And then he hung up the phone.. The Panthers were the Carolinas team, but for many years, they belonged to Richardson. The resignations were a shocking development that left Richardson as the only family member involved in the teams day-to-day operations. Jansen Panettieres cause of death revealed by Hayden Panettiere and his family. I work, I go home, he said. Jon Richardson died of cancer in 2013. Richardson took a lower public profile in later years as his gait and speech slowed he went nine years between press conferences at one point. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. pic.twitter.com/9Cjn0PSYW2. 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. I sweated it out every day. 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. Sports columnist Scott Fowler has written for The Charlotte Observer since 1994. Stephanie & I were saddened to learn of the passing of Jerry Richardson, Rivera said on social media. 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. A year after Carolina was awarded a franchise, in 1994, Richardson spoke to The Observer about what it was like to be an NFL owner. The magazines investigation portrayed Richardson as an owner who acted inappropriately with a number of his female employees and also directed a racial slur at an African-American scout employed by the Panthers. That concept was iffy enough that well-known oddsmaker Danny Sheridan gave Charlotte 50-1 odds of getting an NFL team in 1989. By then, the Panthers were playing their ninth NFL season. The team said that "moving the statue is in the interest of public safety." The NFL expansion process was painstaking. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. Richardson wanted $10,000 for the 61 season; the Colts offered $9,750. ", "Jerry Richardson gave me my first opportunity to be a head coach, and I'll always be thankful for that. You cant get to all 2,000 of them, he said then of the companys restaurants. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. All about former Carolina Panthers owners, net worth, statue, scandals and more. He sold the team to Tepper, a hedge fund owner, in May 2018 for a then-NFL record $2.27 billion. We are saddened to hear about the passing of former owner Jerry Richardson, the Panthers said via Twitter on Thursday afternoon. He fired a number of Richardson-era employees after his purchase and also quickly changed the 50-yard line symbol to the Panthers logo. Richardson took that playoff bonus money and invested it into the restaurant business. 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. Richardson had a unique style of dealing with players, but generally was well-liked by those who played and coached under him. Richardson was born in Spring Hope, North Carolina, in 1936. Richardson died. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. A family spokesman said Thursday that Richardson died peacefully last night at his Charlotte home.. 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. The Panthers began playing in 1995 and Richardson owned them until 2018, when he sold the team under pressure to current owner David Tepper. While hitchhiking with some Wofford friends at Pawleys Island, S.C., during the summer of 1957, he met a Winthrop student and former Florence High cheerleader named Rosalind Sallenger. Richardson said in 2018 his greatest mission in life was bringing the NFL to the Carolinas. A native son who was shaped by the region, his . 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. "The NFL community is deeply saddened by the passing of Jerry Richardson. 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. His survivors include his wife Rosalind and two of their three children Mark and Ashley. The team called the statue a public safety hazard at the time, citing the nightly social justice marches then occurring in Charlotte. 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. The Carolina Panthers founder and former owner died on March 1, 2023. 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. Although Richardson once promised the Panthers would win a Super Bowl within 10 years of beginning play in 1995, they never did. 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. "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. "And he went above and beyond to bring comfort to a family at its toughest time.". Along the way, decisions were made that changed the face of sports business. It was a miracle. Richardson became the first former NFL player to own a team since the Bears George Halas when he landed the expansion Panthers in 1993. 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. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson died Wednesday night at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. He still holds the school's single-game record for receiving yards (241 against Newberry in 1956), as well as records for touchdown receptions in a season (9) and career (21). Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. Richardson would set several Wofford receiving records on his way to a career that led the school to retire his football number. We wish them much peace and comfort.. "The NFL community is deeply saddened by the passing of Jerry Richardson," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement Thursday. A new home for Michael Thomas? When he owned the team, Richardson would often refer back to the lessons learned selling hamburgers. 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). Condolences to Rosalind, Ashley, & Mark and the Richardson family.. He was 86. Richardson, after numerous accusations of workplace misconduct, sold the Panthers to Tepper back in 2018. "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. 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. Jerry Richardson entered Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, after completing high school in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Richardsons bid for an NFL team had to at first beat out a competing bid for a Charlotte team from Shinn. This website uses cookies and similar technologies to ensure you get the best experience, including personalised content. "He called me and told my wife and I to meet him at the airport, and he put us on his plane and took us up to Boston Children's Hospital to make sure we got the best care and the best team to look at him. Jansen Panettieres cause of death revealed by Hayden Panettiere and his family, Kris Jordan: Cause of death, age, ex-wife Melissa Jordan, children, net worth and more, Where to buy Atlanta Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson's Christmas cleats. 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. Photos of Jerry Richardson throughout his time with the Panthers. He chaired the labor committee during the 2011 lockout before owners and players agreed on a 10-year collective bargaining agreement that ended the longest work stoppage in NFL history. The Carolina Panthers are a testament to his extraordinary and tireless dedication to the community.But his league-first attitude as seen through his leadership of numerous NFL committees, including the Stadium Committee and Management Council Executive Committee, 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.As a former player himself, Jerry cared deeply about the welfare of players and the labor agreements he helped negotiate have led to improved pay and benefits for generations of players.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. With the Colts, he roomed with quarterback Johnny Unitas, and caught a touchdown pass from the Hall of Famer in the 1959 NFL Championship Game. Richardsons tenure was marred by off-field issues. Olsen and his wife Kara later named the child Trent Jerry Olsen after Richardson. The following month the NFL fined Richardson $2.75 million for alleged workplace misconduct. "With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave the 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. He made the greatest gift in Wofford Colleges history in 2021 when he gave $150 million to the institution. 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. The Ohio State product feels good about his ability as a passer and extending plays with his legs, but he's just as willing to put in the work to grow at the next level. It has never returned. He calls and says, Jake, the sun came out today at my house, did it come out at yours?, Delhomme said Thursday. But Richardson still had the $4,864 bonus he earned from the Colts 1959 championship. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? Photos: Carolina Panthers founder, former owner Jerry Richardson over the years, Support my work with a digital subscription, A nervous Kevin Durant debuts for Phoenix in Charlotte. 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. Jerry Richardson, the self-made millionaire who brought the NFL to Charlotte and founded the Carolina Panthers, died Wednesday. The Olsens honored Richardson by naming their son T.J., short for Trent Jerry. 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. 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 . Id call it sticking to your convictions.. 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. "On the NFL's behalf, I extend our sincere condolences to Jerry's wife, Rosalind, and their family.". 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. Please check your email for a confirmation. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Here you will get Jerry Richardson's net worth, weight, height net worth, girlfriend, educational qualification and complete bio. Richardson knew that his physical presence inside a store had a way of motivating his employees. 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 A public celebration of his life will be held at a later date. It was a stormy night, she said then. Because of his imposing build and status as a former NFL player, Richardson engendered a level of respect not often accorded to NFL owners. 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Please keep the Richardson family in your prayers today! A 1987 Observer story noted that Richardsons Spartan Food Systems restaurant colossus at that point included 2,000 Hardees, Quincys and Dennys restaurants. Read what head coach Frank Reich said to the media during his press conference at the Combine on Wednesday. Richardson was hospitalized in the year 2008 in Carolinas Medical Center. With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave the NFL fans here a team to call their own.". It was expected at the time one of the boys might inherit the team, but that never happened. For me to try to explain to you guys what this man has meant to me and my family and so many others would take a lifetime," Davis posted. "With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave the NFL fans here a team to call their own. 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. I have the ultimate American dream, it couldnt be better for me. 1 overall in 2011 for fear it would impact his image. The founder and former owner of the Panthers passed away on Wednesday night. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. I dont have any hobbies. Scott Fowler is a national award-winning sports columnist for The Charlotte Observer. https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/02/panthers-owner-david-tepper-jerry-richardson/, Report: Panthers free agent RB D'Onta Foreman expected to be 'hot commodity', Panthers legend Steve Smith Sr. officially opens mental health facility, Panthers OC Thomas Brown receives praise from 2023 NFL draft prospect, Will Levis: Breaking down film with Frank Reich, Panthers was fun, Panthers great Cam Newton honors late Jerry Richardson, Report: Panthers will not use franchise tag this offseason, Former Panthers react to passing of team founder Jerry Richardson, Report: Panthers inquire about trade for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, Biggest takeaways from the Panthers' combine media availability, 1 player Panthers fans should watch for each day of the combine, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. To see what the Panthers are today, that's truly a testament to his vision.". The family did not own a car until Jerry Richardson was 16. The former president of the Panthers stadium was their son Jon Richardson. 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. He owned the franchise from its inception in 1995 until 2018 when he sold it to David and Nicole Tepper. He fired both his sons Mark, the team president, and Jon, the director of stadium operations following a sibling squabble at the stadium in front of other employees while he was recovering from a heart transplant in 2009. Jerry Richardson Wife, Children Richardson's marital status was married. Richardson didnt play much for Baltimore. Richardson had 241 yards receiving in a game against Newberry in 1956, and he was named an Associated Press Little All-American in 57 and 58. 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. . He used his championship bonus money to open the first Hardees in Spartanburg, South Carolina close to where he had attended Wofford College. He was fined $2.75 million by the NFL after an extensive investigation into the allegations following a story by Sports Illustrated in which four former employees anonymously stated they reached a financial settlement with Richardson in exchange for silence. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's cap hit might be rising in 2023, but owner Jerry Jones believes his quarterback has the ability to bridge the gap in any talent the roster might lose because of it. The team said that moving the statue is in the interest of public safety. It has never returned. 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. But as he stepped back from some of his day-to-day work with the team, his influence within the NFL remained large. People had said it was 150-to-1, 200-to-1. 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. 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. 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. But when you get to some of them, the word moves fast to the rest of them.. 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. "I didn't know Mr. Richardson very well at all,'' Olsen said. During its very 1st season, he triumphed over the NFL Super Bowl. 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. "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. I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons. He ultimately became a millionaire and used that money to purchase the Panthers for $206 million. Richardson and Rosalind moved into an apartment close to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore with their infant son, Jon. An explanation of winter vs nesting robins locally, winter aconite in snow, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and ice shacks being down on Lake Winnebago are among the notes from around Chicago outdoors. Richardson delivered an impassioned speech at the 2010 annual meetings, imploring owners to take back our league. But his hard-line tactics didnt sit well with all players, particularly after he was said to have spoken condescendingly toward Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Drew Brees during a negotiating session. 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. He went on to make his fortune in the restaurant business, becoming chief executive officer of Flagstar, the sixth-largest food service company in the country at the time. But Richardsons tenure was marred by off-field issues. 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 . We wish them much peace and comfort.". How could you ever forget that? Richardson said in the 1995 interview with The Observer. "As a former player himself, Jerry cared deeply about the welfare of players and the labor agreements he helped negotiate have led to improved pay and benefits for generations of players.