CHARLOTTE, N.C -- Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFLs most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. He and his wife have two sons, Mark and Jon. Ive always told him he came into the world with a streak of lightning.. Richardson was . Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. "No one has done more for Wofford students. 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. After he had a heart transplant in Charlotte in 2009, Richardson lived for 14 more years. Former tight end Greg Olsen posted a four-minute video on Twitter, saying when Richardson learned his unborn son had a serious heart defect he insisted on flying his family to Boston Medical Center in his own personal jet so they could receive the best medical advice. In 23 NFL seasons with Richardson as owner, the Panthers qualified for two Super Bowls, in the 2003 and 2015 postseason, although they lost both games. And in 2014 star defensive end Greg Hardy was placed on a commissioner's exempt list after he was accused of allegedly throwing his girlfriend on to furniture and threatening to kill her. He also had a policy where fans weren't allowed to remove their shirts during games. "The NFL community is deeply saddened by the passing of Jerry Richardson," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement Thursday. He used his championship bonus money to open the first Hardees in Spartanburg, South Carolina close to where he had attended Wofford College. CHARLOTTE Jerry Richardson, the founder of the Carolina Panthers, passed away Wednesday night at age 86. Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is a former NFL player who turned a $4744 championship bonus into a billion dollar fast food fortune. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade), Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, right, introduces the team's new coach, Ron Rivera, left, during a news conference in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. The entire family lives in Charlotte. Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera, who led Carolina to the Super Bowl in 2015, sent his condolences on Twitter. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. ''I'm literally at a loss of words. A 13-foot, 4500-pound statue of Richardson, given to him by his ownership partners in 2016 and placed outside Bank of America Stadium, was removed in June 2020 by the Panthers. But after his second season, he walked away from the NFL in a dispute over money, and returned to Spartanburg to start his business career. Carolina began play in 1995 and Richardson quickly built the Panthers into one of the league's model franchises, while becoming a powerful figure in the NFL. Jerome Johnson Richardson Sr. (July 18, 1936 - March 1, 2023) was an American businessman, football player, and owner in the National Football League (NFL). Jerry Richardson's age is 86 years old as of today's date 15th February 2023 having been born on 18 July 1936. The following day Richardson would tell a pep rally of thousands of fans in Charlotte that the Panthers would not only get to but win a Super Bowl within their first 10 years an unfulfilled promise that he was often reminded of in later years. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Entering the last preseason game before final cuts, Richardson and Michigan States John Lewis were battling for the final receiver spot. Category: Richest Business. When linebacker Thomas Davis retired in 2021, he thanked Richardson for believing in him and keeping him on the roster despite having suffered three torn ACLs in the same knee. Who helped themselves and who took a misstep on the second day of workouts at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine? pic.twitter.com/9Cjn0PSYW2. You'll now receive the top Panthers Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. 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. 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. He was not a close personal friend at the time. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 53 after a protracted fight with cancer. He was a married man. His father was a barber. Jerry Richardson family: Who are wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson and children Ashley, Jon and Mark? Richardson was born in his familys home in Spring Hope, in the eastern part of North Carolina, on July 18, 1936. ", "Jerry Richardson gave me my first opportunity to be a head coach, and I'll always be thankful for that. The promise came close to coming true during the 2003 season. I dont know whether youd call it stubbornness or not, Richardson later told the Observer. The Olsens honored Richardson by naming their son T.J., short for Trent Jerry. The NFL expansion process was painstaking. Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFLs most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. The founder and former owner of the Panthers passed away on Wednesday night. He went on to make his fortune in the restaurant business, becoming chief executive officer of Flagstar, the sixth-largest food service company in the country at the time. A former teammate of Johnny Unitas who caught a touchdown pass in the Baltimore Colts victory over the New York Giants in the 1959 NFL championship game, Richardson only spent two years in the NFL before venturing into the restaurant business. He was 86. Jansen Panettieres cause of death revealed by Hayden Panettiere and his family. "The Carolina Panthers are a testament to his extraordinary and tireless dedication to the community. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our. He was 86. On Thursday afternoon, the Carolina Panthers announced the passing of team founder and former owner Jerry Richardson. Muhleman noted the drive that Richardson exhibited in his relentless pursuit of making Carolina the NFLs 29th franchise. The Richardsons are both lifelong residents of North Carolina. 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. He calls and says, Jake, the sun came out today at my house, did it come out at yours?, Delhomme told The Associated Press on Thursday. We are saddened to hear about the passing of former owner Jerry Richardson, the Panthers said via Twitter on Thursday afternoon. After the Panthers clinched the NFC South during their second Super Bowl season in 2015, quarterback Cam Newton got Richardson to dab during a raucous locker-room celebration in New Orleans. I was told I couldn't get my company on the New York Stock Exchange before I was 40. The following month the NFL fined Richardson $2.75 million for alleged workplace misconduct. Richardson was rarely one to back down from a challenge, but there were some challenges he couldn't overcome by sheer force of will and determination. 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. He was 86.. For me to try to explain to you guys what this man has meant to me and my family and so many others would take a lifetime," Davis posted. It was also reported he used a racial slur directed toward a team scout. With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave the NFL fans here a team to call their own.". It was truly a special experience to play a part in the culmination of his efforts to bring football to the Carolinas. Richardson had a pacemaker/defibrillator inserted in his heart in 2008, and doctors told him he would need a heart transplant. Richardson was celebrated for bringing the NFL to Carolina in 1995, but his tenure with the team ended after the 2017 season amid allegations of sexual and racial workplace misconduct. About the time he came into this world, thunder burst and lightning flashed. He died at his home in Charlotte on Wednesday night, the team said in a statement Thursday. Date of Birth: Jul 11, 1936 (86 years old) Richardson knew that his physical presence inside a store had a way of motivating his employees. An only child, Richardson had a modest upbringing. A year after Carolina was awarded a franchise, in 1994, Richardson spoke to The Observer about what it was like to be an NFL owner. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? Jansen Panettieres cause of death revealed by Hayden Panettiere and his family, Kris Jordan: Cause of death, age, ex-wife Melissa Jordan, children, net worth and more, Where to buy Atlanta Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson's Christmas cleats. Jerry Richardson Wife, Children Richardson's marital status was married. RIP Mr. Richardson pic.twitter.com/o27b6O5Czt. After purchasing the Panthers, Tepper said he was contractually obligated to keep the statue of Richardson, flanked by two panthers, outside of the downtown Charlotte stadium that Richardson built. The new mayor has the power to physically remake the city or large portions of it. We got love from a man that was my employer, my boss, not a close personal friend at the time, Olsen said. He was 86. Still, Richardson often began his days at that point, at age 51, by showing up unannounced at one of the Hardees in Spartanburg, and either making biscuits, pouring coffee or taking orders at the drive-thru. When Richardson heard the news in Chicago on Oct. 26, 1993, that his bid had been accepted to own the NFLs 29th franchise, he pointed to television cameras from the Carolinas at a press conference and yelled: Thank you, thank you, thank you!. Jerry Richardson, a former NFL owner, is survived by his wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson. Being a part of the inaugural season is something that I will never forget. He has authored or co-authored eight books, including four about the Carolina Panthers. Richardson was born in Spring Hope, North Carolina, in 1936. Richardson served on several high-level owners committees, playing a key role in labor negotiations with the players' union. Mr. Richardson claims that Wofford has had the biggest impact on his achievement in life, with no other influence coming close. The Richardsonslived in North Carolina their entire lives. The team called the statue a public safety hazard at the time, citing the nightly social justice marches then occurring in Charlotte. Richardson began the process of building a football team in July of 1987, when he met with former Bank of America CEO and Charlotte icon Hugh McColl to discuss his dream of bringing the sport to his home state. Read what head coach Frank Reich said to the media during his press conference at the Combine on Wednesday. Wofford offered Richardson a partial scholarship worth less than $300, and he took it. Rosalind Sallenger Richardson; the wife of former player and current team owner, Jerome Johnson Richardson, simply known as Jerry Richardson; he is the owner of the Carolina Panthers. $2 Billion. It was also reported he used a racial slur directed toward a team scout. He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1959 and caught a touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas in the 1959 NFL Championship Game. The Panthers were impressed with the Alabama quarterback after meeting him this week, and they've acknowledged the possibility of trading up to get in position for him. He was a loyal member of the league, and painted "The Shield" logo at the 50-yard-line of his home field throughout his tenure as owner. Richardson is survived by his wife, Rosalind, son Mark and daughter Ashley Richardson Allen. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful.. 5:26 PM on Mar 2, 2023 CST. All about former Carolina Panthers owners, net worth, statue, scandals and more. Jerry Richardson got his heart transplanted in the year 2009. It was a very stressful time.. A former teammate of Johnny Unitas who caught a touchdown pass in the Baltimore Colts victory over the New York Giants in the 1959 NFL championship game, Richardson only spent two years in the NFL before venturing into the restaurant business. He fired a number of Richardson-era employees after his purchase and also quickly changed the 50-yard line symbol to the Panthers logo. 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. He and I spent a tremendous amount of time talking about his vision for what the Panthers could do for the Carolinas. 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. Also Read: Who was Jerry Richardson? Conservative by nature, Richardson once cautioned Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton against getting tattoos and piercings after drafting the quarterback No. March 2, 2023 / 5:16 PM / AP. The Carolina Panthers defeated the New York Giants 23 to 0. Nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild are also included in their family. Richardson wanted $10,000 for the 61 season; the Colts offered $9,750. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. He still holds the school's single-game record for receiving yards (241 against Newberry in 1956), as well as records for touchdown receptions in a season (9) and career (21). Rest up my friend!''. Personal Life: Dating, Girlfriends, Wife, Kids. Jon Richardson died of cancer in 2013. A lot of times people get to some level and they dont like to take a risk, he said. Sources have told The Observer it will never return to the stadium. We wish them much peace and comfort.. Mark Richardson was the team president and the heir apparent to his father, while the more laid-back Jon Richardson oversaw the stadium during its construction and operation. I was told, 'You can't make money selling hamburgers for 15 cents.' 2 days ago Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. I dont have any hobbies. An explanation of winter vs nesting robins locally, winter aconite in snow, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and ice shacks being down on Lake Winnebago are among the notes from around Chicago outdoors. "I never thought about not getting a franchise," Richardson said, expressing his trademark confidence. Richardson called Archie Manning, Peytons father, to clear the air and believed the situation was overblown. During the year in which Richardson waited for and later recovered from his heart transplants, his two sons led the organization. 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. "I was able to become the player that I became because of him, because he encouraged and motivated me to Keep Pounding. But Richardsons 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. Richardson, who was born July 18, 1936. Their country home had no indoor plumbing. After purchasing the Panthers, Tepper said he was contractually obligated to keep the statue of Richardson, flanked by two panthers, outside of the downtown Charlotte stadium that Richardson built. 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. A former teammate of Johnny Unitas who caught a touchdown pass in the Baltimore Colts' victory over the New York Giants in the 1959 NFL championship game, Richardson only spent two years in the NFL before venturing into the restaurant business. In the year 2002, he received the heart trouble and had . When players would get into trouble, Richardson would invite them to his home and make them sit in a formal room listening to the minutes tick away on a grandfather clock before Richardson was ready to see them. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Jerry Richardson Net Worth. He was 86. Within hours of the report, Richardson announced his decision to sell the team. . "His generosity will benefit future generations," Wofford athletics director Richard Johnson said.