CNN
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Carolina Panthers founder and former owner Jerry Richardson died Wednesday night at the age of 86, the team announced. The team did not release a cause of death.
A quarterback at Wofford College, Richardson was selected 154th overall by the Baltimore Colts in the 1958 NFL Draft. However, he retired after his second season in the league due to a financial dispute and returned to Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he began his career in business.
Richardson became the first NFL player to own a team since George Halas in 1993 when the league franchised Carolina. The Panthers’ first season was in 1995.
In December 2017, Richardson announced that he was selling his majority stake after the team began investigating him for “employment misconduct”.
In 2018, Appaloosa Management hedge fund founder David Tepper agreed to buy the team for $2.2 billion, the Charlotte Observer reported.
“Jerry Richardson’s contribution to professional football in the Carolinas is historic,” said Panthers owners David and Nicole Tepper. “With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, it changed the landscape of sports in the area and gave NFL fans here their own team.
“He was very kind to me when I bought the team, and I’m grateful to him for that. Nicole and I send our condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family and their loved ones. peace and comfort.
Under Richardson, the Panthers reached two Super Bowls and three NFC title games.
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