The Carolina Panthers announced an expansion of their Hall of Honor on Monday. During the 2019 season, they will celebrate the careers of four former players: quarterback Jake Delhomme, wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., offensive tackle Jordan Gross and tight end Wesley Walls.
“It’s something that was so overdue,” owner David Tepper told the media, referencing the fact the team had just one player in the Hall, linebacker Sam Mills.
Delhomme spent seven seasons in Carolina after two seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He started 90 games, throwing for 19,258 yards and 120 touchdowns. He led the Panthers to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVIII after the 2003 season.
Smith is the greatest wide receiver in franchise history, playing 13 seasons (182 games) and catching 836 passes for 12,197 yards, which is eighth all-time in NFL history. Smith played his final three years with the Baltimore Ravens.
Gross spent his entire 11-year career with the Panthers, starting 167 games. He played all 16 regular-season games in all but three of those seasons and spending majority of his time protection the blind sides of Jake Delhomme and Cam Newton.
Walls joined the Panthers in 1996 after six seasons with the 49ers and Saints. He would spend seven years in Carolina, playing 98 games, catching 324 passes for 3,902 yards and 44 touchdowns. Walls is fourth on the team’s all-time list for receiving yards, behind only Smith (12,197), Mushin Muhammad (9,255) and Greg Olsen (5,866). In total, Walls played 15 years in the league, finishing his career with the Green Bay Packers.
These four players were sized for their jackets and bronze busts in Charlotte, and will have their names displayed on the upper bowl of Bank of America Stadium.
