5 Best Quarterbacks in Carolina Panthers History

Three and change years in, it’s clear that Young has been steadily improving in the years following a rough 2023 rookie season.

After finishing his first campaign with a 73.7 QBR and 11:10 touchdown-interception ratio, many fans were ready to turn on Young, whose pick cost the Panthers DJ Moore and the chance to draft Caleb Williams.

Staying patient with Young has paid off, and he has picked up where he left off in 2026, with a 96.4 QBR, 939 yards and seven touchdowns in the first three games of the season.

Just four years into his Panthers career, Young has the fourth-most passing yards and touchdowns in franchise history, and nearly, improbably sent the #5 seed Los Angeles Rams packing in last year’s Wild Card round.

3. Steve Beuerlein (1996-2000)

Taking over the reigns from Collins after serving as his backup, Beuerlein fully arrived in 1999, where he led the NFL in passing with 4,436 yards and 36 touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl selection in the process.

Both of those stats, as well as his completions (343), long stood as franchise single-season records.

Over the course of a strong, albeit brief tenure in Carolina, Beuerlein compiled the third-most receiving yards (12,690) and touchdowns (86) in franchise history, and he fittingly retired as a member of the Panthers in 2004 after signing a one-day contract.

2. Jake Delhomme (2003-2009)

Delhomme is a fond memory for many Panthers fans, as he embodied the meaning of clutch over the course of seven seasons in Carolina, beginning with his leading the Panthers to their first Super Bowl appearance, a 32-29 loss to Tom Brady and the Patriots in which Delhomme threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns.

That was only the start, as Delhomme would engineer 21 game-winning drives, which is the most in franchise history to this day. From 2003 to 2005, Delhomme would win four consecutive playoff games on the road, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to do so.

Ultimately, Delhomme stands with the second-most passing yards and touchdowns in franchise history.

1. Cam Newton (2011-2021)

Newton is the undeniable king of Panthers quarterbacks until a newcomer comes along. Statistically, he’s far and away the leader in pass yards (29,725), touchdowns (186) and approximate value (128). He’s also third in rushing yards with 5,036. So, you know.

Newton’s rookie season is one of the best in modern history, as he followed up a No. 1 draft selection out of Auburn by winning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and shattering rookie passing and rushing marks.

His 2015 season, where he won MVP and led the Panthers to a 15-1 record before losing to the Broncos in Super Bowl 50, was among the best seasons, period, in the 2010s.

Beyond his on-field play, Newton put on for his city, giving new birth to the idea of sports in Carolina with his infectious spirit and confidence. By far the most iconic quarterback in Panthers history, there will never be another Cam Newton.