He was 86. I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons. He died at his home in Charlotte on Wednesday night, the team said in a statement Thursday. (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. We all felt his love, all felt his commitment, Greene said of Richardson. He was 86. On Thursday afternoon, the Carolina Panthers announced the passing of team founder and former owner Jerry Richardson. In a two-sentence statement at the time that didnt explain the mysterious parting, Richardson cited the great contributions his sons had made, but expressed confidence in the remaining members of the leadership team. . Im 58 years old, and I dont hunt, I dont fish, and I dont play golf. After he had a heart transplant in Charlotte in 2009, Richardson lived for 14 more years. Jerry Richardson Net Worth 2023: Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Kids, Bio He provided tremendous guidance to me, and to this day, Karen and I consider him and Rosalind true friends. 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. '', We are saddened to hear about the passing of former owner Jerry Richardson. On the NFL's behalf, I extend our sincere condolences to Jerry's wife, Rosalind, and their family. Sign up for the Panthers Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. 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. Richardson served on several high-level owners committees, playing a key role in labor negotiations with the players union. Panthers founder, former owner, Baltimore Colts player Jerry Richardson After growing up in the Fayetteville area, Richardson went to Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C.; where he excelled in football and laid the groundwork for a business empire that would allow him to return to the game he once walked away from. Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera, who led Carolina to the Super Bowl in 2015, sent his condolences on Twitter. He is survived by his wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson and three children Ashley, Jon, and Mark. He was 86. Photos of Jerry Richardson throughout his time with the Panthers. The founder and former owner of the Panthers passed away on Wednesday night. The team reached the Super Bowl in the 2003 and 2015 seasons, but lost both times. Pictures of Richardson holding babies or showing up at pre-game tailgates made their rounds on social media before most games. Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation supported the first-of-its-kind in Mecklenburg County project, which offers urgent care for behavioral health needs. 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. It has never returned. He and I spent a tremendous amount of time talking about his vision for what the Panthers could do for the Carolinas. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Chad Reuter provides a stock report from Indianapolis. 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. And during Richardson's tenure as owner he always made sure the NFL logo instead of his team's was at midfield of Bank of America Stadium. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? Richardson was born in Spring Hope, North Carolina, in 1936. Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson dies at 86 During the year in which Richardson waited for and later recovered from his heart transplants, his two sons led the organization. Jerry Richardson Wife: Who Is Rosalind Sallenger Richardson? NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. In 2000, wide receiver Rae Carruth, the teams first-round draft pick in 1997, was convicted on a murder conspiracy charge in connection with the drive-by shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend. 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. Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints weather report: What is the temperature at FirstEnergy stadium? The resignations were a shocking development that left Richardson as the only family member involved in the teams day-to-day operations. Entering the last preseason game before final cuts, Richardson and Michigan States John Lewis were battling for the final receiver spot. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. Rajeeta Kochhar? 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. Jerry Richardson, the self-made millionaire who brought the NFL to Charlotte and founded the Carolina Panthers, died Wednesday. Even in his later years, Richardsons posture showcased what Muhleman called a flawless vertical carriage that made him the tallest 6-foot-3 on the planet.. Charlotte had already become a professional sports town with the arrival of the NBA's Hornets in 1988, but those were the days when the city struggled to build an identity as anything other than a regional outpost, still confused with Charleston, S.C. or Charlottesville, Va., and years from becoming a national banking center. As the team's owner, Jerry Richardson, made his rounds on the way to his spacious office, he would ask women to turn around so he could admire their backsides. Once a fixture at tailgate parties with random Panthers fans before home games he liked to show up unannounced via golf cart Richardson was rarely seen in public in his final years. Richardsons bid for an NFL team had to at first beat out a competing bid for a Charlotte team from Shinn. He was 86.. Richardson knew that his physical presence inside a store had a way of motivating his employees. The NFL expansion process was painstaking. Although Richardson once promised the Panthers would win a Super Bowl "within 10 years" of beginning play in 1995, they never did. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Jerry Richardson, the former Baltimore Colts wide receiver who later founded and owned the Carolina Panthers until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. Also Read: What is enlarged heart? Being a part of the inaugural season is something that I will never forget. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. The Carolina Panthers defeated the New York Giants 23 to 0. Rosalind Sallenger, Richardsons wife, also studied at Winthrop University in the late 1950s. Carolina earned high marks in several key areas in survey, which rated various aspects of players' experience from strength coaches and the locker room to treatment of families. Three months later, running back Fred Lane, who had just been traded to Indianapolis, was shot and killed by his wife in their Charlotte home. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 53 after a protracted fight with cancer. 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. Richardson had hired and fired two coaches Dom Capers, who got Carolina to the NFC championship game in Year 2 but could not repeat the success; and George Seifert, who went 16-32 in three desultory seasons in Carolina. "Mr. Richardson taught me so many life lessons over the years and I will forever be grateful for the friendship and the bond that we had. Rosalind Sallenger Richardson 5 Facts about Jerry Richardson's Wife There, he began creating the emphasis on customer service that would carry over into his stewardship of his football team. 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. 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. 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. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Because of his imposing build and status as a former NFL player, Richardson engendered a level of respect not often accorded to NFL owners. 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. Jaguars won't spend big, but here are five players they could target in free agency. He was 86. The report alleged that Richardson had committed numerous instances of workplace misconduct, including sexual harassment, uttering a racial slur and asking some of his female employees if he could personally shave their legs., The report, which was substantiated by the NFLs ensuing probe, revealed that at least four former Panthers employees had received significant financial settlements from Richardson following his inappropriate behavior in exchange for what amounted to a vow of silence. It also noted that Fridays were Jeans Day at the Panthers offices, and that became fodder for many inappropriate comments by Richardson. During its very 1st season, he triumphed over the NFL Super Bowl. But his fourth-quarter, 12-yard TD catch from Unitas gave the Colts a 21-9 lead in a game they would win 31-16. Jerry Richardson and wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson established a $500,000 fully endowed scholarship to Winthrop. The Olsens honored Richardson by naming their son T.J., short for Trent Jerry. CHARLOTTE, N.C (AP) 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 . We wish them much peace and comfort.. , , , Tunisha Sharma , , Jerry Richardson, the founder of the American football team Carolina Panthers, has died at the age of 86, He is survived by his wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson and three children - Ashley, Jon, and Mark, Nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild are also included in his family. Former Carolina Panthers owner, Wofford grad Jerry Richardson dies It was expected at the time one of the boys might inherit the team, but that never happened. 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. 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. The Panthers were the Carolinas team, but for many years, they belonged to Richardson. 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. 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!. The team reached the Super Bowl in the 2003 and 2015 seasons, but lost both times. His contributions to Wofford to date total more than $260 million, including capital upgrades. Jerry Richardson, the former Carolina Panthers owner who sold the team amid accusations of workplace misconduct, and his wife Rosalind have donated $5 million to Charleston's International . The Dallas Cowboys will place the franchise tag on running back Tony Pollard if the two sides cannot reach a long-term deal before March 7's deadline, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday, per sources. Although Richardson once promised the Panthers would win a Super Bowl within 10 years of beginning play in 1995, they never did. Panthers founder Jerry Richardson dies at 86, Jones: Not fixated on Cowboys' drought, just '23, Sources: Raiders plan franchise tag for Jacobs, WR Addison to Steelers' Pickett: 'Come get me', Wolverines' Turner wows with 4.26 40 at combine, Top QB prospect Levis eager to unleash 'cannon', QB Bennett addresses off-field issues at combine, Campbell: Lamar wants deal done with Ravens, Alabama QB Young undeterred by size questions, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? In the late 1950s, Rosalind Sallenger Richardson studied at Winthrop University. The Carolina Panthers are a testament to his extraordinary and tireless dedication to the community.But his league-first attitude as seen through his leadership of numerous NFL committees, including the Stadium Committee and Management Council Executive Committee, helped pave the way for a series of public-private stadium partnerships throughout the country, and collective bargaining agreements that continue to support the growth of the game.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.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. 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. Career Richardson stepped into NFL draft in 1959 and got selected in the thirteenth round by the supremacy victors the Baltimore Colts. And he went above and beyond to bring love and comfort to a family at its toughest time.". 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. When Carolina received an NFL team from the League in 1993, Richardson became the second former NFL player to hold the position of the owner. ", "Jerry Richardson gave me my first opportunity to be a head coach, and I'll always be thankful for that. 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. It was also reported he used a racial slur directed toward a team scout. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. If wed known then how long it would take, we never would have done it, Richardson said in 1995, on the eve of the Panthers first game. Conservative by nature, Richardson once cautioned Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton against getting tattoos and piercings after drafting the quarterback No. An only child, Richardson had a modest upbringing. He was 86.. 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.". 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). 1 pick, Jalen Carter arrest throws Bears a hittable curve, NFL Combine notes: Illini CB Witherspoon the complete package, Trade down? Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. He was my boss. With the news also came a statement from current owner David Tepper and wife . Playing for the Browns that day was offensive tackle Mike McCormack, whom Richardson would later hire as the Panthers first president. Nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild are also included in their family. Lawmakers and others should not seek to undo laws meant to protect people from gun violence. "Jerry Richardson's contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic," current Panthers owner David Tepper and his wife Nicole said in a statement. Within hours of the Sports Illustrated report, Richardson announced that he would sell the Panthers. Jerry Richardson Net Worth. We are saddened to hear about the passing of former owner Jerry Richardson, the Panthers said via Twitter on Thursday afternoon. Jerry Richardson Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Kids Scoring in a world championship game is about the ultimate as far as a player is concerned.. I have the ultimate American dream, it couldnt be better for me. You'll now receive the top Panthers Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Jon Richardson died of cancer in 2013. Richardson didnt play much for Baltimore. Also Read: Who was Jerry Richardson? Richardson packed up, left the Colts training camp and pointed his Oldsmobile station wagon toward the Carolinas. This story was originally published March 2, 2023, 3:51 PM. He made the greatest gift in Wofford Colleges history in 2021 when he gave $150 million to the institution. Jerry Richardson Wife, Children Richardson's marital status was married. The Richardsonslived in North Carolina their entire lives. In the year 2002, he received the heart trouble and had . By then, Richardson had become a generally popular owner with his players and was doing the Panthers job full-time, having left the day-to-day restaurant business in 1995. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. . Net Worth: $2 Billion. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. They have three children. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? He was not a close personal friend at the time. Jerome J. Richardson was born July 18, 1936, in Spring Hope, N.C., the first step in a journey that would transform the Carolinas. 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. Former Panthers general manager Marty Hurney worked under Richardson from 2002-12 and then returned to the team in 2017 and worked four more years. Jerry Richardson Wife, Age, Wiki, Biography, Cause Of Death, Parents By then, the Panthers were playing their ninth NFL season. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. After he had a heart transplant in Charlotte in 2009, Richardson lived for 14 more years. When he owned the team, Richardson would often refer back to the lessons learned selling hamburgers. While hitchhiking with some Wofford friends at Pawleys Island, S.C., during the summer of 1957, he met a Winthrop student and former Florence High cheerleader named Rosalind Sallenger. Jerry Richardson Wiki, Age, Bio, Height, Wife, Career, Net Worth With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave NFL fans here a team to call their own. 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. We got love from a man that was my employer, my boss, not a close personal friend at the time, Olsen said. Panthers founder, former owner Jerry Richardson dies at 86 Former Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen, who played for Carolina from 2011 to 2019, revealed in a video message on Twitter that his son T.J., who was born with hypo-plastic left heart syndrome that initially required four open heart surgeries, was named in part after Richardson as the "J" is Jerry. Ralph Waclawicz/Call (212) 686-8900 or e-mail info@wireimage.com to license WireImage images. Before that, Richardson was revered for bringing the Panthers to the NFL in 1995 and helping the team reach Super Bowls after the 2003 and 2015 seasons. Theres nothing Id rather do with my time than be supportive of the Carolina Panthers.. This website uses cookies and similar technologies to ensure you get the best experience, including personalised content. He and his wife have two sons, Mark and Jon. Sports columnist Scott Fowler has written for The Charlotte Observer since 1994. I will always remember him, as will millions in his beloved Carolinas, as the father of NFL football in these sister states, said Max Muhleman, a public-relations specialist who worked closely with Richardson for years. Stephanie & I were saddened to learn of the passing of Jerry Richardson, Rivera said on social media. 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. 1:08 Jerry Richardson, founder of the Carolina Panthers, has died. It was a stormy night, she said then. Jerry Richardson, Panthers founder and former owner, dies at 86 Richardson never addressed the allegations against him publicly. The braver players like linebacker Kevin Greene and Delhomme would call him Big Cat. He was Mister Richardson to nearly everyone else in the building at Bank of America Stadium, with many shortening that name to simply Mister when referring to the team owner. Rest up my friend!''. "The odds against us were huge. He began the Carolina Panthers franchise, which he owned from 1995 to 2018. His height is 1.91 m tall, and his weight is 84 kg. Jon, Mark, and Ashley Richardson Allen are her three children. Can the Lions fix their defense? Richardsons catch came in the horseshoe end of Memorial Stadium, where the rowdier Colts fans congregated. 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. About the time he came into this world, thunder burst and lightning flashed. But his work was hailed in league circles as a member of the league's stadium committee, and one of commissioner Roger Goodell's close circle of trusted voices. Jerry Richardson - Wikipedia That would be real boring.. The new mayor has the power to physically remake the city or large portions of it. Florida. In February 2021, Richardson made a $150 million gift to Wofford, pushing his personal contributions to the school to over a quarter of a billion dollars. He ultimately became a millionaire and used that money to purchase the Panthers for $206 million. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson died Wednesday night at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 played football at Fayetteville High 6-3, 150-pound receiver known as Stick for his slender frame who won the teams Competitor Trophy. He was 86. 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.". 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. He chaired the labor committee during the 2011 lockout before owners and players agreed on a 10-year collective bargaining agreement that ended the longest work stoppage in NFL history. I work, I go home, he said. He would still make his rounds on his golf cart before many home games, however, greeting fans, players and coaches and shaking their hands. 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. How could you ever forget that? Richardson said in the 1995 interview with The Observer. The family did not own a car until Jerry Richardson was 16. 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. Within hours of the report, Richardson announced his decision to sell the team. Richardson had a pacemaker/defibrillator inserted in his heart in 2008, and doctors told him he would need a heart transplant. "I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons," Rivera said on social media. He visited every owner in the league all 28 of them at least once, Muhleman said, and sought out the brilliant retired NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle at his California home. He has given considerable gifts to . "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. He used his championship bonus money to open the first Hardees in Spartanburg, South Carolina close to where he had attended Wofford College. They played miniature golf in Myrtle Beach on their first date. That would serve as the seed money for a hugely successful fast-food franchise that would lead to Richardson bringing an NFL franchise to the Carolinas.