David Tepper says Carolina is no longer chasing the playoffs—it belongs there. Now Bryce Young, Dave Canales and the Panthers must prove it.

David Tepper just removed the training wheels from the Carolina Panthers.

After watching Carolina capture the NFC South and return to the postseason, the Panthers’ owner has made his expectations for the 2026 NFL season crystal clear: Dave Canales’ team isn’t merely hoping to sneak into January anymore.

“This year we are a playoff team,” Tepper said while discussing the future of Bank of America Stadium.

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That’s a bold line for a franchise that finished 8-9 last season, even if that record was good enough to win a chaotic three-way race in the NFC South. Carolina improved by three victories from its 5-12 finish in 2024, claimed its first division championship since 2015 and hosted its first playoff game in a decade.

Now comes the dangerous part: proving the breakthrough wasn’t just a one-year sugar rush.

Bryce Young made real progress in 2025, completing 63.6 percent of his passes for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Those numbers won’t place him among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, but they represented career highs across the board and gave Carolina something it hasn’t had in years—legitimate hope at the most important position.

Young also has a certified weapon in Tetairoa McMillan. The 2025 first-round pick exploded for 70 catches, 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns, earning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors while establishing himself as the centerpiece of Carolina’s passing game.

The Panthers even showed some postseason teeth. They pushed the Los Angeles Rams to the final minute before falling 34-31 in the wild-card round. Young threw for 264 yards, accounted for two touchdowns and briefly gave Carolina a fourth-quarter lead.

That close call is exactly why Tepper’s declaration carries weight. The Panthers are past the stage where improvement alone earns applause. Canales is entering his third season. Young is entering a pivotal year in his long-term evaluation. General manager Dan Morgan has had time to reshape the roster.

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There’s no official “playoffs or else” ultimatum hanging over the building, but owners don’t publicly label their teams as playoff-caliber without creating pressure.

Tepper has planted the flag. Carolina won the NFC South last season, and now its owner expects the Panthers to stay on top.

Anything less will feel like a step backward—and in Charlotte, that could make the 2026 season uncomfortable in a hurry.