The 2002 season was the Carolina Panthers' eighth in the National Football League and their first under head coach John Fox. They tried to improve upon their 1–15 record in 2001, and make it to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history.
After moving from the NFC West to the more geographically accurate NFC South, they improved by six games to finish 7–9, but were still five games behind the division champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and failed to make the playoffs. Their Week 12, 41–0 loss against the Atlanta Falcons was the Panthers' last shutout for 21 years.
Offseason Signings Departures DE Shane Burton (Jets) WR Donald Hayes (Patriots) CB Terry Cousin (Dolphins) FB Chris Hetherington (Rams) LB Mark Fields (Rams) DE Jay Williams (Dolphins)
NFL draft
The 2002 NFL draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 15 and April 16, 2002. The Panthers selected nine players in seven rounds. Despite having the worst record in the league the previous season, the Panthers picked 2nd overall due to the Houston Texans picking first overall in their inaugural draft, as is tradition (under NFL rules) with expansion teams.
Undrafted free agents
+ 2002 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeKen AmatoLinebackerMontana StateNathan BlackWide receiverNorthwestern StateEric BrackinsLinebackerMichiganBen ColemanDefensive tackleFlorida A&MLonnie FordDefensive endUSCGuilian GaryWide receiverMarylandBilly Dee GreenwoodSafetyNorth CarolinaTerrell HarrisWide receiverTulaneMark InkrottTight endFindlayShannon Money GuardArkansasAries MonroeLinebackerAlabamaTavarreus PoundsLinebackerAuburnKemp RasmussenDefensive endIndianaDarian TateDefensive tackleWalshRyan TolhurstWide receiverRichmond
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Regular season Schedule Under the NFL’s new scheduling formula put in place for this season, the Panthers would play two games each season against their NFC South division rivals. A schedule rotation would see them play the NFC North in full in 2002 and every three seasons subsequently, and the AFC North in 2002 and every four seasons subsequently. As the Panthers had the worst record in the NFL in 2001, they would also play the Arizona Cardinals, who had the worst 2001 record amongst teams in the reconstituted NFC West, and the Dallas Cowboys, who had the worst 2001 record amongst teams in the NFC East. Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 8 Baltimore Ravens W 10–7 1–0 Ericsson Stadium 70,386 2 September 15 Detroit Lions W 31–7 2–0 Ericsson Stadium 71,951 3 September 22 at Minnesota Vikings W 21–14 3–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,945 4 September 29 at Green Bay Packers L 14–17 3–1 Lambeau Field 63,329 5 October 6 Arizona Cardinals L 13–16 3–2 Ericsson Stadium 72,286 6 October 13 at Dallas Cowboys L 13–14 3–3 Texas Stadium 61,773 7 October 20 at Atlanta Falcons L 0–30 3–4 Georgia Dome 68,056 8 October 27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 9–12 3–5 Ericsson Stadium 72,892 9 Bye 10 November 10 New Orleans Saints L 24–34 3–6 Ericsson Stadium 72,566 11 November 17 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 10–23 3–7 Raymond James Stadium 65,527 12 November 24 Atlanta Falcons L 0–41 3–8 Ericsson Stadium 72,533 13 December 1 at Cleveland Browns W 13–6 4–8 Cleveland Browns Stadium 72,718 14 December 8 Cincinnati Bengals W 52–31 5–8 Ericsson Stadium 66,799 15 December 15 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 14–30 5–9 Heinz Field 58,586 16 December 22 Chicago Bears W 24–14 6–9 Ericsson Stadium 72,602 17 December 29 at New Orleans Saints W 10–6 7–9 Louisiana Superdome 66,946 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 4: at Green Bay Packers
Week 5: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 16: vs. Chicago Bears
Standings Division
Conference
References