Panthers Football Card of the Week
It's Hall of Fame Game week and there's only one obvious choice for this week
It’s Hall of Fame enshrinement day!
The Carolina Panthers got to play in the Hall of Fame Game Thursday night for one big reason.
Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuke!
Luke Kuechly will be enshrined as the 386th member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame today.
It should come as no surprise that Kuechly is the third member to be featured into the Panthers Football Card of the Week series!
2014 Bowman Chrome Luke Kuechly, #13
Did I think the Panthers drafted a Hall of Famer when they took about two seconds to turn in the card to take Kuechly in 2012?
You never think someone’s going to be a Hall of Famer, but I felt like he’d be a pretty good player.
Clearly he was much better than I ever envisioned and it was awesome to watch at home and in the stadium.
As the back of the card says, “Luke excels as a run stuffer. He also has the speed and motor to cover receivers and snuff out plays from the back side.”
I was lucky enough to be at the game where Kuechly recorded his first interception at home against the Seahawks in 2012. I was also at the final game of his career - which none of us knew was coming - in 2019.
He was the Defensive Rookie of the year in 2012 and named First or Second Team All-Pro every year after that.
As far as a favorite Kuechly memory, how can you choose just one?
His 24 tackle performance against the Saints in the rain to help the Panthers clinch their first division title in five seasons was superb.
He had one interception and forced another to help the Panthers win a playoff game in 2014.
His performance on Thanksgiving in 2015 will always be memorable. He intercepted Tony Romo on back to back plays, returning the first one for a touchdown and adding a stiff arm as he crossed the goal line.
His interception returns for touchdowns in the playoff games against the Seahawks and Cardinals made the stadium shake. I attended both games and was on the end zone side for each touchdown.
It’s fitting that he’s going into the Hall of Fame with one of the best classes of all time. Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald and Adam Vinatieri.
Kuechly’s career - like life - went by in a flash. You have to appreciate greatness when you see it. Kuechly wasn’t just great on the field, by all accounts he’s one of the best people you’ll meet.
His 8-year career may be considered short by many, but his impact on and off the field will be everlasting.