He was 86. And defensive end Greg Hardy was suspended after he was arrested for communicating threats after allegedly throwing his girlfriend on to furniture and threatening to kill her. That never deterred me. The team also became embedded in the sports culture of the Carolinas, producing stars like Cam Newton, Steve Smith and Luke Kuechly and routinely selling out 73,000-seat Bank of America Stadium. Category: Richest Business. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson watches players warm up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. He played football at Fayetteville High 6-3, 150-pound receiver known as Stick for his slender frame who won the teams Competitor Trophy. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson died Wednesday night at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Richardson served on several high-level owners committees, playing a key role in labor negotiations with the players union. Career Richardson stepped into NFL draft in 1959 and got selected in the thirteenth round by the supremacy victors the Baltimore Colts. "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. And he went above and beyond to bring love and comfort to a family at its toughest time.". ", "I will always be thankful to Mr. Richardson for providing me with the opportunity to play for the Panthers. 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. As with other captains of industry, Richardson's name adorns a number of buildings throughout the two states, but few places carry it as proudly as his alma mater. "The odds against us were huge. His survivors include his wife Rosalind and two of their three children Mark and Ashley. "Jerry Richardson brought NFL football to the Carolinas!'' Playing for the Browns that day was offensive tackle Mike McCormack, whom Richardson would later hire as the Panthers first president. During the year in which Richardson waited for and later recovered from his heart transplants, his two sons led the organization. He overcame prostate cancer and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2002. Jerry Richardson, the founder of the American football team Carolina Panthers, has died at the age of 86. It was also reported he used a racial slur directed toward a team scout. Who was Jerry Richardson? "He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. It has never returned. Richardson beat long odds to earn the right to land a franchise. Email Scott at sfowler@charlotteobserver.com or call him at 704-358-5140, Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Charlotte area sports - only $1 a month. ''I'm literally at a loss of words. The Panthers were the first team to employ the concept, and the influx of cash was crucial to privately financing what was then known as Carolinas Stadium. The following month the NFL fined Richardson $2.75 million for alleged workplace misconduct. Sports columnist Scott Fowler has written for The Charlotte Observer since 1994. That would be real boring.. The plan to finance the stadium largely with his own money was the part that carried the biggest risk, but Richardson told The Observer in 1987 that would be part of the fun. After the Baltimore Colts drafted Richardson in the 13th round, he showed up for training camp in 1959 as one of 19 receivers fighting for three spots on the 36-man roster. 32 NFL players who could change teams this offseason, Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, amid allegations of sexual and racial workplace misconduct, More than 25 years experience covering NFL, college football and NASCAR. Olsen and his wife Kara later named the child Trent Jerry Olsen after Richardson. A bypass surgery in 2002 was just the beginning, and after years of treatments and other procedures, he received a heart transplant on Feb. 2, 2009, at Carolinas Medical Center. The concept was simple cheap hamburgers, served to the masses and wildly successful. 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. Too brutal.. But in June 2020, the Panthers removed the statue, saying they were concerned there may be attempts to take the statue down due to protests and unrest following the death of George Floyd. With an emphasis on need-based monetary scholarships and opportunities for Wofford students, this contribution is intended for the colleges endowment. There, he began creating the emphasis on customer service that would carry over into his stewardship of his football team. 1 pick, Jalen Carter arrest throws Bears a hittable curve, NFL Combine notes: Illini CB Witherspoon the complete package, Trade down? I was told I couldn't get my company on the New York Stock Exchange before I was 40. 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. Richardsons playing career lasted only two seasons when he walked away from the game at 25 following a dispute over $250. Head coach Frank Reich and general manager Scott Fitterer plan on speaking with the veteran quarterback again next week after Tuesday's meeting in Indianapolis. Here you will get Jerry Richardson's net worth, weight, height net worth, girlfriend, educational qualification and complete bio. Former Pro Bowl linebacker Thomas Davis, who played for Carolina from 2005 to 2018, summed up what many players thought of Richardson with this post on Instagram. I dont know whether youd call it stubbornness or not, Richardson later told the Observer. Together they have three children and their names are Ashley Richardson Allen, Mark, and Jon. Too grueling. He married Rosalind Sallenger Richardson. "On the NFL's behalf, I extend our sincere condolences to Jerry's wife, Rosalind, and their family.". All about former Carolina Panthers owners, net worth, statue, scandals and more, What is enlarged heart? Theres nothing Id rather do with my time than be supportive of the Carolina Panthers.. Richardson is survived by his wife, Rosalind, son Mark and daughter Ashley Richardson Allen. Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson waves to the Panthers fans during warmups prior to their playoff game against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on January 08, 2006. The stadium was named "Jerry Richardson Stadium" after his donation of $10 Million. He was my boss. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. Jerry Richardson's Wife, Marriage & Relationship Richardson is married to Rosalind Sallenger Richardson. Carolina began play in 1995 and Richardson quickly built the Panthers into one of the leagues model franchises, while becoming a powerful figure in the NFL. That kind of production earned him Associated Press Little All-America honors in 1957 and 1958, and in 1959, he was drafted by the Baltimore Colts. Within hours of the report, Richardson announced his decision to sell the team. Richardsons mother, Mary, told The Observer in 1993 that her son was born after 17 hours of labor during a thunderstorm. "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. Ralph Waclawicz/Call (212) 686-8900 or e-mail info@wireimage.com to license WireImage images. Richardson became the first former NFL player to own a team since Chicago's George Halas when he landed the expansion Panthers in 1993. He was a married man. He was 86. He ultimately became a millionaire and used that money to purchase the Panthers for $206 million. The family did not own a car until Jerry Richardson was 16. A native son who was shaped by the region, his personal journey culminated with bringing professional football to the Carolinas, leaving an indelible mark on the area he loved. He calls and says, Jake, the sun came out today at my house, did it come out at yours?, Delhomme said Thursday. 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. 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. The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation supported the first-of-its-kind in Mecklenburg County project, which offers urgent care for behavioral health needs. Richardson didnt play much for Baltimore. On Thursday afternoon, the Carolina Panthers announced the passing of team founder and former owner Jerry Richardson. 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. A native son who was shaped by the region, his . He was 86. 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. With the news also came a statement from current owner David Tepper and wife Nicole, who thanked Richardson for what he had done for them and the organization. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. He and I spent a tremendous amount of time talking about his vision for what the Panthers could do for the Carolinas. For better or worse. "I didn't know Mr. Richardson very well at all,'' Olsen said. Richardson knew that his physical presence inside a store had a way of motivating his employees. 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. Richardson remained confident throughout the process, getting a license plate that read PNTHERS in 1989 four years before his ownership group would actually be awarded a team. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. We wish them much peace and comfort.. Two months after going on the donor waiting list, Richardson, then 72, received his transplant on Super Bowl Sunday in 2009 during a five-hour procedure at Carolinas Medical Center. He was 86.. Early life and college [ edit] Richardson was born in Spring Hope, North Carolina. Richardson said in 2018 his greatest mission in life was bringing the NFL to the Carolinas. Fowler has earned 20 national APSE writing awards and hosted The Observers podcast Carruth, which Sports Illustrated named 2018s Podcast of the Year. His new podcast and online series is called Sports Legends of the Carolinas and features 1-on-1 interviews with NC and SC sports icons. Jerry Richardson, the founding owner of the Carolina Panthers, died Wednesday night at the age of 86, the team announced Thursday in a release on behalf of his family. Richardson kept a game ball from the championship game and a pair of Unitas cleats in the basement of his Charlotte home. He was 86. Jerry Richardson, Panthers founder and former owner, dies at 86, Jaxon Smith-Njigba wants to re-create connection with Bears QB Justin Fields, NFL Scouting Combine shifts mock draft, but Bears needs unchanged, QBs in NFL Draft in haze as Bears play poker with No.