The Carolina Panthers selected Will Grier at No. 100 in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
The West Virginia Mountaineers product enjoyed a strong run with the program, earning Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 2017. He was also named to the second-team All-Big 12 the following year.
Grier suited up for six different NFL franchises, serving mostly as either a backup quarterback or third-stringer. He spent two seasons with Carolina before bouncing around the league over the next several years.
His 2023 campaign saw him sign with the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers. The 6-foot-1 signal-caller went on to the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys before returning to the Panthers in April. He has only played two games in his entire pro career, both with Carolina in 2019.
Philadelphia Eagles add Will Grier to their roster ahead of 2024.
Will Grier Announces Retirement
The Panthers announced the 31-year-old’s retirement on Wednesday.
“Will Grier came back to his hometown team three months ago, but his comeback won’t continue into training camp,” the statement on the Panthers website read.
“The veteran quarterback has chosen to retire. The Panthers placed him on the reserve/retired list on Wednesday.”
This decision comes as a surprise considering how Grier signed a one-year, $1.215 million contract with the team during the offseason. He was expected to compete for a spot in Carolina’s QB room.
In his two games, Grier completed 28-of-52 passes for 228 yards, zero touchdowns and four interceptions.He added seven rushing attempts for 22 yards and took six sacks. While the North Carolina native saw limited action, he was valuable during practices, helping the team prepare for games.
His decision left Carolina with three quarterbacks on its roster. Bryce Young will remain asthe QB1, with veteran Kenny Pickett likely serving as his backup. The Panthers also have undrafted rookie Haynes King for additional depth and an emergency quarterback.
They finished in a three-way tie in the NFC South with an 8-9 record last season. However, the team won the Division Title due to tiebreakers. Carolina reached the playoffs but lost 34-31 to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round.
The Panthers added some veterans and bolstered the lineup via the draft, aiming to have a deeper postseason run in 2026.
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