Carolina Panthers Expected to Achieve First Winning Season Under Tepper in 2025

The Carolina Panthers are showing promising signs of improvement heading into the 2025 NFL season under head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan, with optimism about achieving their first winning record under owner David Tepper. Analyst Lou Scataglia believes the Panthers could double their 2024 win total, potentially finishing with a 9-8 or even 12-5 record, fueled by the continued development of quarterback Bryce Young and a well-balanced roster. The team gained momentum in the latter half of 2024, thanks to Canales' coaching and aggressive roster building, though some experts like Albert Breer caution that the Panthers' ceiling may still be around eight or nine wins, insufficient for a playoff run. A key area of focus is improving their historically weak defense, particularly the linebacker corps, where rookie Trevin Wallace has shown potential despite injury setbacks and is expected to play a significant role in 2025. While the Panthers are not yet expected to be a playoff contender, the combination of improved stability, culture shifts, and young talent has fans hopeful about the franchise's upward trajectory. Overall, the Panthers appear poised to shed their recent reputation as underperformers and make meaningful progress in their rebuilding phase.