Hendon Hooker played high school football roughly 100 miles northeast of Bank of America Stadium.
During his youth, he was surrounded by Carolina Panthers memories. And as he enters the next phase of his NFL career, he can truly appreciate the big moments he witnessed as a youngster, from Super Bowl appearances to personal interactions.
“Cam Newton is what I vividly remember,” Hooker said Thursday.
The Panthers’ new practice-squad quarterback also remembers events he attended, in and around his hometown of Greensboro, that featured some of the greatest players in franchise history. He recalls taking part in Ricky Proehl’s annual football camps and running around a field at North Carolina A&T — where his father, Alan, had a Hall of Fame college career — with then-Carolina stars Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith Sr.
“Steve Smith was out there teaching kids how to catch the ball,” Hooker said. “And that’s a lasting impression that you’ll hold onto forever.”
Then-Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker during the school's pro day at the Anderson Training Facility in Knoxville, Tenn. on March 30, 2023. Brianna Paciorka USA TODAY NETWORK
Hooker is now the one looking to make an impression with the Panthers.
After clearing waivers following the cut deadline last week, the 2023 Detroit Lions third-round pick decided to sign with the Panthers as part of the team’s 17-man practice roster. While he had interest elsewhere, Hooker decided that playing close to home was the right move, especially with his pre-existing relationships in the building. Head coach Dave Canales, who met with Hooker twice during the pre-draft process, was eager to work with him, and the 27-year-old QB was quick to accept the Panthers’ offer as his official NFL second chance.
“I felt like this is the best option for me in my career,” Hooker said.
Where he’s wanted
Hooker spent two seasons with the Lions after being selected with the 68th overall pick in 2023. Detroit took him with a premium pick, despite knowing that he’d have to sit out his entire rookie season as he recovered from an ACL injury sustained during his senior year at Tennessee.
Hooker, who spent his first four college years at Virginia Tech, produced 6,080 passing yards, 58 touchdowns and just five interceptions in his two years with the Vols. He also ran 1,046 yards and 10 touchdowns in 24 games while leading the offense in Knoxville.
Then-Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker runs into the end zone for a touchdown against Missouri in Neyland Stadium, Nov. 12, 2022. Caitie McMekin USA TODAY NETWORK
So, even with a major knee surgery on his medical record, Hooker’s upside was appealing enough to make him a strong Day 2 pick during a draft in which the Panthers selected Bryce Young with the first overall pick.
At the time of Hooker’s pre-draft process, Canales was in his first and only year as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator. The then-42-year-old play caller met with Hooker at the NFL Scouting Combine and during a prospect visit in Tampa.
The pair hit it off.
“It was one of my most liked visits,” Hooker recalled. “Just from the conversation that we had — the whole staff there. Talking about the game of football, talking about life, and trying to develop in both of those stages.”
“I had some great meetings with him,” Canales said. “He really impressed me, as a man, and a really high-character guy with a lot of talent, a beautiful (throwing) motion. Big, strapping guy who can run.”
Then-Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker carries the ball he was presented during a pregame ceremony recognizing the team's seniors on Nov. 12, 2022 in Knoxville, Tenn. Saul Young USA TODAY NETWORK
Hooker played in just three regular-season games for the Lions from 2023 to 2024. He completed six of nine total passes for 62 yards. He never started a meaningful game and never got to show his mobility.
This summer, Hooker played in four preseason games — including the annual Hall of Fame matchup in Canton, Ohio — and threw for 187 scoreless yards and three interceptions. He ran for 62 yards.
While Lions head coach Dan Campbell said during training camp that Hooker had improved in the pre-snap process from spring to summer workouts, he also acknowledged that the young QB still had somethings to work on.
Following a preseason finale blowout loss to the Houston Texans, Campbell alluded to Hooker possibly needing to go elsewhere to make the most of his NFL career.
“Look, it’s always going to be, ‘How much development do you believe there is?’” Campbell said when asked about Hooker’s future. “Because look, we are talking about Hooker right now. How much development do you believe there still is? Sometimes, does the player need a change of scenery? What about our own depth in other areas? I mentioned this the other day, relative to that — all right, maybe there is room to grow. Is that worth it for the depth we need at O-line, D-line, receiver, DB? And so those are all things you have to weigh.”
Then-Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (2) runs with the ball against the Houston Texans during the second half at Ford Field on Aug. 3, 2025. David Reginek USA TODAY NETWORK
The Lions ended up cutting Hooker as part of their annual roster purge to 53 players on Tuesday ahead of the league deadline. Once Hooker cleared the waiver wire Wednesday, the Panthers called with the opportunity on the practice squad.
“I just wanted to go somewhere where I’m wanted,” Hooker said. “And wanted to develop and learn. And Coach (Canales) said that he would like me to come learn under him, and we have a great bond from the draft process. Just reminiscing on the talks that we had then, I’m eager to learn from him.”
A support system for potential success
When Hooker decided to take the Panthers up on their offer, he let his parents know that he would be heading closer to home.
“I think they were more excited than I was,” Hooker said. “You can’t get that time back to spend with family, so any time that I get to spend with them, that’s what I do.”
Then-Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker walks off the field after the 26-7 loss in the preseason game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. Junfu Han USA TODAY NETWORK
The James B. Dudley High School alum considers himself a “huge family guy,” and being able to drive home in less than two hours was an added bonus to joining his home state’s NFL franchise.
“Definitely a great thing be back close to my mom and dad and brother, and just the support of everyone in the community, and from the Carolinas,” Hooker said.
The support stretches into the halls of the Panthers’ headquarters on Mint Street. Canales and GM Dan Morgan were eager to get Hooker in the building and build off the development he received behind Pro Bowl QB Jared Goff in Detroit.
“I think (Campbell) said it right, sometimes guys need a change of scenery, and he’s had great training up there,” Canales said. “I am very grateful that we get a player who’s had professional training for a while now with setting protections and run game alerts and a lot of the different things that the offense that Detroit was able to build like that I really admire and to be able to bring. A guy who’s had exposure in that and the talent and the character that I’m excited about. I’m glad he’s gonna be here.”
“The biggest thing is Coach Canales wants to develop and work with him,” Morgan added on Thursday. “I think Dave’s bought into that. Hendon has bought into that. We’ll kind of see where it goes. That’s why he’s on our practice squad right now, because we think he has some really good traits to work with. Coach really wants to work with him.”
Then-Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker warms up before a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Brett Davis USA TODAY NETWORK
Hooker also has a longstanding relationship with Young. The quarterbacks met at the Manning Passing Academy in 2022, and they bonded over their love of the game and the intricacies of signal calling.
When they were part of the same draft class in 2023, they reconnected, and their football talks became even more detailed.
“I remember traveling to the combine (in Indianapolis), me and Bryce talked for maybe two hours on just pass protection in the airport,” Hooker said with a laugh.
Along with Young, Hooker also has pre-existing relationships with offensive linemen Cade Mays and Yosh Nijman and tight end James Mitchell dating back to his college days. Hooker played with Nijman and Mitchell at Virigina Tech. He transferred to Tennessee during Mays’ final year with the program.
So, Hooker’s first day in his new job was quite comfortable. A familiar setting with a handful of familiar and friendly faces.
Hooker can benefit from that setup as he looks to establish himself within the locker room.
“I just try to control what I can control,” Hooker said. “Coming in with a great attitude, be a great teammate, and be a great leader. So, now just taking it step by step, day by day. Now that I’m here, I’m just going to continue to get in the playbook, learn and be ready when my number’s called.”
Then-Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker practices during the organized team activities in Allen Park on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Kimberly P. Mitchell USA TODAY NETWORK
Hooker, wearing No. 16 at practice, got off to solid start with his new boss. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound passer showed off his arm to his new teammates and coaches, and Canales was impressed.
“Smooth thrower,” Canales said. “Lot of power in his arm. I can tell he’s worked on his footwork and his base and fundamentals since college. He looks like he’s really dialed into the technique and all that. … It was just an individual period, but I loved what I saw today.”
If Hooker shines behind the scenes, he’ll eventually be able to make a push for a spot on the 53-man roster. And while 37-year-old Andy Dalton is Young’s longtime backup, there’s a potential wide-open future for Hooker within the Panthers’ QB room.
Dalton has two years, including this one, on his contract, and Young is still working to prove that he can be the team’s franchise guy.
Anything can happen at the position. And Hooker simply needs to perform well on the practice field to put his name in the conversation for a long-term roster spot.