It’s not just a fierce-looking cat.
The Carolina Panthers’ black panther head logo — with its piercing eyes and silver trim — has represented the franchise since it joined the NFL in 1995. But many fans, especially those in the Carolinas, have long believed the logo hides something else: a subtle outline of both states.
And that theory might actually be true.
Was that really the plan all along?
It sure seems like it.
Though there’s no formal design manifesto from NFL Properties confirming it, the idea is far from just wishful thinking. Fan forums and design blogs have long pointed out that the jawline, ear curve and neck of the panther closely resemble the combined shape of North Carolina and South Carolina.
Adding weight to the belief, longtime Panthers radio voice Mick Mixon told The State in 2016 that the team’s logo is indeed intended to mimic an outline of the two states.
Who crafted the Panthers’ subtle dual-state logo?
The original design was created in the early 1990s by NFL Properties, the league’s branding arm, working closely with team ownership.
Mark Richardson, team president and son of founding owner Jerry Richardson, had already picked out Carolina’s black, blue and silver color scheme. Those choices drew criticism from NFL officials when the franchise was announced as the league’s 29th team in 1993. But Richardson’s vision emphasized strength, sleekness — and regional identity.
While no official designer has publicly broken down each curve, the collaboration aimed to build a symbol that unified both Carolinas under a single banner.
What does ‘One Carolina’ really mean?
From the beginning, the Panthers have emphasized representing both the Carolinas.
The team held training camp in Spartanburg, South Carolina, for decades before moving it to uptown Charlotte last year. The organization’s headquarters sit just miles from the state line, and its marketing push has long reinforced a “One Carolina” identity.
And whether you’ve noticed it or not, the logo might just reflect that unity — in its shape, and in its roar.