Latest news with #LukeKuechly
New York Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ryan Fitzgerald brings accuracy and a big leg to the Panthers' kicking competition
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Before he signed with the Carolina Panthers on Friday, Ryan Fitzgerald already had a favorite barbecue spot in Charlotte and a private gym where he worked out alongside Luke Kuechly and current Panthers players Andy Dalton and Chandler Zavala this past winter. Besides a strong leg and an accurate aim, Fitzgerald brings a comfort level to the Panthers' kicking competition. Advertisement 'I love it so far,' he said. Fitzgerald was in Charlotte from January through March, training with his kicking coach, Dan Orner, a former North Carolina kicker who has worked with a number of former and current NFL players, including new Panthers punter Sam Martin. Fitzgerald ate barbecue at Mac's Speed Shop five or six times, lived in an apartment within walking distance of Quail Hollow Club, site of this week's PGA Championship, kicked at local high schools and on the Charlotte 49ers' fields, and bumped into Kuechly on occasion at the gym. But none of that played a role in the Panthers' decision to sign the Florida State standout as an undrafted free agent and have him compete with veteran Matthew Wright for Eddy Pineiro's old job. 'First of all, accuracy. But then there's a lot of power in his leg,' head coach Dave Canales said when asked what the Panthers saw in Fitzgerald. 'The ball jumps off of his foot. When we're evaluating the kickers, just looking for the guys that have a process. And he certainly has a plan, certainly has a process.' Fitzgerald's process changed during a rough 2022 season in which he made only 12 of 20 field goals for the Seminoles. After trying out a new leg swing that year, Fitzgerald switched back to his previous form and got back on track with a 19-of-21 success rate in 2023. The 5-foot-11, 193-pound Fitzgerald went 13-of-13 last fall to tie Charlotte's Stephen Rusnak as the FBS leader in field goal percentage. Fitzgerald, whose six-year career at FSU included the COVID-shortened season of 2020, was 5-for-5 on field goals of 50-plus yards in 2024, including a 59-yarder that was the third-longest in ACC history. 'Going into 2022, I changed my swing and started off terrible,' Fitzgerald said. 'So I changed it back and I've been money ever since.' Advertisement Pineiro was money for most of his time in Carolina, making 88.9 percent of his field goals to climb into the third spot on the all-time field goal percentage list (at 88.1) behind Justin Tucker and Harrison Butker. But the Panthers didn't have much faith in Pineiro's leg strength, evidenced by his 11 attempts from 50-plus over the past three years. So they signed Wright in February, chose not to re-sign Pineiro (who remains a free agent) and brought in Fitzgerald after the draft. Wright has made 87.3 percent of his field goals since entering the league in 2020. But he's never found an NFL home, playing for six teams over five years. Fitzgerald has kicked in Bank of America Stadium once previously, hitting three field goals — including two in the fourth quarter — to help Florida State beat Louisville 16-6 in the 2023 ACC Championship Game. The Panthers won't wait until training camp to get the competition underway. 'We'll start kicking now. And we'll give those guys opportunities,' Canales said. 'Places I've been in the past in Tampa and Seattle, there was fun things at the end of practice. It's like, 'All right, let's put the guys up. Let's get the team around them and just create a competitive moment.'' Fitzgerald welcomes it. 'I think at this level, every year, regardless of the team, it's gonna be a competition. I love that. I'm a competitor,' he said. 'But the key to that is just focus on myself. It's me versus the uprights, not me versus another guy. I'm sure that's the same for Matt's mindset as well. Just excited to get to work with the guys.' Those uprights were a little skinnier than what Fitzgerald was used to when he joined special teams coach Tracy Smith for some pre-practice kicks Friday at rookie camp. The Panthers have a practice goal post with uprights that are nine feet apart, the Arena League standard that is about half the 18.5-feet width on NFL goal posts. Advertisement 'I kicked pretty good on them. I only missed a couple on the tiny ones, which would've been good on the big ones,' Fitzgerald said. 'It was a pretty solid day.' Fitzgerald has become a pretty solid golfer after he began playing in college. He said there's a similar motion between swinging a golf club and swinging his leg through a kick. 'You can think of the club face as your foot and your path. If you're gonna hit a draw or a fade with a football as well. I typically hit about a 1-yard draw if there's no wind. So it's kind of similar to that,' he said. 'I also draw it on the golf course, too, when I hit it well.' Fitzgerald, a 9-handicap, said he's looking forward to playing with Martin, the former Buffalo Bills punter who is also an avid golfer. Fitzgerald, who grew up in south Georgia an hour north of Tallahassee, Fla., is planning to attend the PGA Championship this week. Told that Panthers owner David Tepper is a Quail Hollow member who could get him on the course to play a round, Fitzgerald laughed and said: 'I'll have to see about that.'
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Panthers great Luke Kuechly gives his thoughts on selection of WR Tetairoa McMillan
Panthers great Luke Kuechly gives his thoughts on selection of WR Tetairoa McMillan We have a hunch that former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly may have been a little more amped up for a certain defensive prospect or two in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. But even though his old team didn't go with his side of the ball, the franchise legend (and current Panthers radio broadcaster) still thinks the choice was a fine one. Kuechly joined Monday's episode of Up & Adams, where he chatted about some of the results from this year's selection process. Host Kay Adams would ask the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year and five-time first-team All-Pro for his thoughts on the Panthers' top selection—wideout Tetairoa McMillan. Here was his response: Carolina, after setting an NFL single-season record for most points allowed this past year, was expected to use their first-round pick on defense. Georgia pass rushers Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams and Ole Miss defensive lineman Walter Nolen were seemingly among the favorites. But instead, the Panthers grabbed McMillan at the eighth overall spot. As Kuechly noted, the 6-foot-4 All-American pass catcher could help elevate the offense and third-year quarterback Bryce Young—who finished the 2024 campaign on a strong note. McMillan was highly productive over a three-year collegiate career, having amassed 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns on 213 receptions for the Wildcats. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
USA Today
15-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Luke Kuechly gives his thoughts on who Panthers should draft with 8th overall pick
13 years ago, the Carolina Panthers selected Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly with the ninth overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft. Little did many know, they'd end up with a future Defensive Player of the Year, five-time first-team All-Pro and a near-first-ballot Hall of Famer. This year, the Panthers will be in a very similar position—as they're slated to choose from the 2025 draft's eighth overall slot. And while the odds would dictate that they won't find themselves another Luke Kuechly, the team still has a chance to grab themselves one heck of a player. Kuechly recently chatted with Sports Lens editor DJ Siddiqi, who asked the former 'backer and current Panthers radio analyst for his thoughts on this spring's first-round pick. 'You have to find an impact player that helps you out,' Kuechly replied. 'Do we go defense? There's some good edge rushers, there's a couple of inside guys that are really good. Do we try to find Bryce more playmakers? I think sitting there at eight, we're going to have some really good opportunities. I'm looking forward to seeing what we do.' But does Kuechly have any specific 'impact' players in mind? He was then asked who he thinks Carolina should take. 'I'm a defensive guy, love pass rushers and I love big inside defensive linemen,' he stated. 'There's a guy in Michigan, Mason Graham, he's a stud. Abdul Carter, the two guys at Georgia, they're all over the place. We just gotta go pick the right one.' Considering the Panthers just set a new single-season record for most points allowed, investing that pick into an impact defender certainly makes sense. Unfortunately for Carolina, Graham and Carter—who are widely considered to be two of the very top talents of the class—seem unlikely to fall to them. The Panthers should, however, be in play for those Georgia guys—whether it's edge rusher Mykel Williams, linebacker Jalon Walker or even safety Malaki Starks. As for now, we'll wait for these prospects to show everyone what they have from the scouting combine in less than two weeks.
NBC Sports
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
LB Kuechly reveals what made QB Brees so 'unique'
Luke Kuechly joins Mike Florio and Chris Simms to discuss why playing Drew Brees was such a challenge, if he is still haunted by losing Super Bowl 50 to the Broncos and who his favorite active NFL linebackers are.
USA Today
07-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Panthers legend Luke Kuechly not named to Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2025 class
Carolina Panthers great Luke Kuechly will not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. The former linebacker was not voted as one of the four inductees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2025. Kuechly was in his first year of eligibility for the honor. Carolina selected Kuechly with the ninth overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft. The decorated Boston College standout made his presence in the pros known immediately, as he captured the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. In 2013, Kuechly would be named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. He became just the second player ever, with ex-New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor being the first, to win both awards in their first two seasons. Despite a shortened career due to concussions, Kuechly made the most out of his eight NFL seasons—as he also earned five first-team All-Pro selections, two second-team All-Pro selections and seven Pro Bowl nods.
