"From a personal perspective, he was a wise and caring advisor to me, his fellow owners, and many Panthers players and coaches over the years. If he succeeded, he would become only the second NFL owner ever to both play in the league and own a team the other being George Halas. But his league-first attitude as seen through his leadership of numerous NFL committees helped pave the way for a series of public-private stadium partnerships throughout the country, and collective bargaining agreements that continue to support the growth of the game. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. But in June 2020, the Panthers removed the statue, saying they were concerned there may be attempts to take the statue down due to protests and unrest following the death of George Floyd. He used his championship bonus money to open the first Hardees in Spartanburg, South Carolina close to where he had attended Wofford College. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. Richardson built a food empire from scratch, starting the Hardees hamburger chain with $4,864 in 1961 with playoff bonus money he earned for playing on the Baltimore Colts 1959 NFL championship team. But before he could ride around those games and bask in the adulation of having brought the NFL to the Carolinas, he had to deliver them. CHARLOTTE, N.C Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFLs most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. If wed known then how long it would take, we never would have done it, Richardson said in 1995, on the eve of the Panthers first game. Personal Life: Dating, Girlfriends, Wife, Kids. He fired a number of Richardson-era employees after his purchase and also quickly changed the 50-yard line symbol to the Panthers logo. There, he began creating the emphasis on customer service that would carry over into his stewardship of his football team. John Fox, who coached the Panthers from 2002 to 2010 and led them to the Super Bowl in 2003, told ESPN on Thursday that he and his family are "thankful'' for the opportunity Richardson gave them. I am truly heartbroken and sad over the loss of my friend. 5:26 PM on Mar 2, 2023 CST. While Richardson seldom held press conferences even during the early seasons of the Panthers franchise, his public appearances became far less frequent in his later years. CHARLOTTE, N.C Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFL's most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. Richardson, who was born July 18, 1936. The promise came close to coming true during the 2003 season. Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? We are saddened to hear about the passing of former owner Jerry Richardson. He calls and says, Jake, the sun came out today at my house, did it come out at yours?, Delhomme told The Associated Press on Thursday. "With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave the NFL fans here a team to call their own. Panthers founder Jerry Richardson dies at 86, Jones: Not fixated on Cowboys' drought, just '23, Sources: Raiders plan franchise tag for Jacobs, WR Addison to Steelers' Pickett: 'Come get me', Wolverines' Turner wows with 4.26 40 at combine, Top QB prospect Levis eager to unleash 'cannon', QB Bennett addresses off-field issues at combine, Campbell: Lamar wants deal done with Ravens, Alabama QB Young undeterred by size questions, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Jerry Richardsons contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic," current Panthers owner David Tepper and his wife Nicole said in a statement. He sold the team to Tepper, a hedge fund owner, in May 2018 for a then-NFL record $2.27 billion. A year after Carolina was awarded a franchise, in 1994, Richardson spoke to The Observer about what it was like to be an NFL owner. Jerry Richardson, the founder of the American football team Carolina Panthers, has died at the age of 86 He is survived by his wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson and three children - Ashley, Jon, and Mark Nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild are also included in his family Written By: Alfeeya Mohsin Pathan CHARLOTTE, N.C Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFL's most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave NFL fans here a team to call their own. The lack of consistency was a source of irritation for Richardson, as Carolina failed to put together back-to-back winning seasons during his 23 seasons as owner despite hiring four coaches: Dom Capers, George Seifert, John Fox and Ron Rivera. He went on to make his fortune in the restaurant business, becoming chief executive officer of Flagstar, the sixth-largest food service company in the country at the time. He and Bradshaw Richardsons former quarterback at Wofford opened their first Hardees restaurant in 1961 in Spartanburg. He visited every owner in the league all 28 of them at least once, Muhleman said, and sought out the brilliant retired NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle at his California home. Here you will get Jerry Richardson's net worth, weight, height net worth, girlfriend, educational qualification and complete bio. The following month the NFL fined Richardson $2.75 million for alleged workplace misconduct. People had said it was 150-to-1, 200-to-1. 2005 NFC Wild Card Playoff Game - Carolina Panthers vs New York Giants - January 8, 2006 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey United States January 8, 2006 Photo by Ralph Waclawicz/WireImage.com, To license this image (6995493), contact WireImage: +1 212-686-8900 (tel) +1 212-686-8901 (fax) info@wireimage.com (e-mail) www.wireimage.com (web site), CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 28: Owner Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers looks on before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 13, 2004 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was 86.. He died at his home in Charlotte on Wednesday night, the team said in a statement Thursday. The Dallas Cowboys will place the franchise tag on running back Tony Pollard if the two sides cannot reach a long-term deal before March 7's deadline, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday, per sources. Jerry Richardson, the founder of the American football team Carolina Panthers, has died at the age of 86. "I was able to become the player that I became because of him, because he encouraged and motivated me to Keep Pounding. Along the way, decisions were made that changed the face of sports business. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. Early life and college [ edit] Richardson was born in Spring Hope, North Carolina. But his fourth-quarter, 12-yard TD catch from Unitas gave the Colts a 21-9 lead in a game they would win 31-16. "Jerry Richardson's contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic," Panthers owners David and Nicole Tepper said in a statement. But Richardsons reputation took a tremendous hit when he announced he was selling the Panthers on Dec. 17, 2017, the same day Sports Illustrated reported that four former Panthers employees received significant monetary settlements due to inappropriate sexually suggestive language and actions by Richardson. Their country home had no indoor plumbing. The Olsens honored Richardson by naming their son T.J., short for Trent Jerry. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade), Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, right, introduces the team's new coach, Ron Rivera, left, during a news conference in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011. Richardsons bid for an NFL team had to at first beat out a competing bid for a Charlotte team from Shinn. Florida. Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFLs most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton), NFL comissioner Roger Goodell, left, and Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson walk together during a break at an NFL owners meeting in Irving, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. The lack of consistency irritated Richardson, as Carolina failed to put together back-to-back winning seasons during his 23 seasons as owner despite hiring four coaches: Dom Capers, George Seifert, John Fox and Ron Rivera. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. Once a fixture at tailgate parties with random Panthers fans before home games he liked to show up unannounced via golf cart Richardson was rarely seen in public in his final years. I will always remember him, as will millions in his beloved Carolinas, as the father of NFL football in these sister states, said Max Muhleman, a public-relations specialist who worked closely with Richardson for years. When Greene was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016, he mentioned Richardson and his deep love for his Panthers players in his speech. Mark Richardson was the team president and the heir apparent to his father, while the more laid-back Jon Richardson oversaw the stadium during its construction and operation. Im 58 years old, and I dont hunt, I dont fish, and I dont play golf. We wish them much peace and comfort.". Will Buffalo Bills' Nyheim Hines be fined for 'Santa's Helpers' elf cleats during Chicago Bears Christmas tie? XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? He was 86. Richardson had a unique style of dealing with players, but generally was well-liked by those who played and coached under him. That would serve as the seed money for a hugely successful fast-food franchise that would lead to Richardson bringing an NFL franchise to the Carolinas. "No one has done more for Wofford students. Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson died Wednesday night at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. And defensive end Greg Hardy was suspended after he was arrested for communicating threats after allegedly throwing his girlfriend on to furniture and threatening to kill her. Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is a former NFL player who turned a $4744 championship bonus into a billion dollar fast food fortune. The Spring Hope, North Carolina, native spent years trying to persuade the NFL to put a team in the Carolinas, ultimately succeeding through a relatively original concept of funding a new stadium through the sales of permanent seat licenses. Former Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has died at age 86. Carruth was imprisoned for 16 years. He took the money earned from that game and started the first Hardee's franchise in Spartanburg. The Richardsons are both lifelong residents of North Carolina. After he had a heart transplant in Charlotte in 2009, Richardson lived for 14 more years. You'll now receive the top Panthers Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Date of Birth: Jul 11, 1936 (86 years old) That allegiance to the league and his status within it also made him one of the lead voices for owners in the 2010 labor negotiations, in which he famously and sometimes profanely clashed with players across the table including Peyton Manning. And during Richardson's tenure as owner he always made sure the NFL logo instead of his team's was at midfield of Bank of America Stadium. "With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave the NFL fans here a team to call their own. But Richardsons tenure was marred by off-field issues. A former teammate of Johnny Unitas who caught a touchdown pass in the Baltimore Colts' victory over the New York Giants in the 1959 NFL championship game, Richardson only spent two years in the NFL before venturing into the restaurant business. A native son who was shaped by the region, his personal journey culminated with bringing professional football to the Carolinas, leaving an indelible mark on the area he loved. But the workplace misconduct scandal changed that timetable, and Richardson spent the last five years of his life without owning the team that had defined a large part of his business career. The Ohio State product feels good about his ability as a passer and extending plays with his legs, but he's just as willing to put in the work to grow at the next level. In every case he had one purpose: asking for advice and learning what it was that was wanted from member teams and owners.. "The NFL community is deeply saddened by the passing of Jerry Richardson," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. He owned the franchise from its inception in 1995 until 2018 when he sold it to David and Nicole Tepper. An only child, Richardson had a modest upbringing. They kept opening more and more Hardees, with Richardson before long a multi-millionaire taking a hands-on approach to the business many times. That team went 15-1 in the regular season but would eventually lose to Denver in the Super Bowl, 24-10, as the championship Richardson wanted the most barely eluded him again. They played miniature golf in Myrtle Beach on their first date. Who was Jerry Richardson? Richardson is survived by his wife, Rosalind, son Mark and daughter Ashley Richardson Allen. "I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons," Rivera posted. Though, he is 1.91 m tall, he weighs about 84 kg. Richardsons tenure was marred by off-field issues. When Richardson heard the news in Chicago on Oct. 26, 1993, that his bid had been accepted to own the NFLs 29th franchise, he pointed to television cameras from the Carolinas at a press conference and yelled: Thank you, thank you, thank you!. With the Colts, he roomed with quarterback Johnny Unitas, and caught a touchdown pass from the Hall of Famer in the 1959 NFL Championship Game. A PSL would cost anywhere from $600 to $5400 per ticket and could later be re-sold or handed down in the right-holders will. No cause was given for Richardson's death. That would be real boring.. By then, Richardson had become a generally popular owner with his players and was doing the Panthers job full-time, having left the day-to-day restaurant business in 1995. The report alleged that Richardson had committed numerous instances of workplace misconduct, including sexual harassment, uttering a racial slur and asking some of his female employees if he could personally shave their legs., The report, which was substantiated by the NFLs ensuing probe, revealed that at least four former Panthers employees had received significant financial settlements from Richardson following his inappropriate behavior in exchange for what amounted to a vow of silence. It also noted that Fridays were Jeans Day at the Panthers offices, and that became fodder for many inappropriate comments by Richardson. Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson waves to the Panthers fans during warmups prior to their playoff game against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on January 08, 2006. We wouldnt go into this if I didnt think we could do it, Richardson said at a Charlotte news conference on Dec. 15, 1987, when he officially announced his bid for an NFL expansion franchise. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. Id call it sticking to your convictions.. Richardson was hospitalized in the year 2008 in Carolinas Medical Center. Net Worth: $2 Billion. As the team's owner, Jerry Richardson, made his rounds on the way to his spacious office, he would ask women to turn around so he could admire their backsides. During the year in which Richardson waited for and later recovered from his heart transplants, his two sons led the organization. During its very 1st season, he triumphed over the NFL Super Bowl. He provided tremendous guidance to me, and to this day, Karen and I consider him and Rosalind true friends. That kind of production earned him Associated Press Little All-America honors in 1957 and 1958, and in 1959, he was drafted by the Baltimore Colts. I sweated it out every day. Richardson never addressed the allegations against him publicly. To see what the Panthers are today, that's truly a testament to his vision.". Richardson took that playoff bonus money and invested it into the restaurant business. Richardsons legacy was forever changed when Sports Illustrated magazine published an investigative report just minutes before kickoff on a Sunday the Panthers were hosting the Green Bay Packers Dec. 17, 2017. Richardson died. Jansen Panettieres cause of death revealed by Hayden Panettiere and his family, Kris Jordan: Cause of death, age, ex-wife Melissa Jordan, children, net worth and more, Where to buy Atlanta Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson's Christmas cleats. Condolences to Rosalind, Ashley, & Mark and the Richardson family.. In February 2021, Richardson made a $150 million gift to Wofford, pushing his personal contributions to the school to over a quarter of a billion dollars. When linebacker Thomas Davis retired in 2021, he thanked Richardson for believing in him and keeping him on the roster despite having suffered three torn ACLs in the same knee. "I didn't pay any attention to it. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson died Wednesday night at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Entering the last preseason game before final cuts, Richardson and Michigan States John Lewis were battling for the final receiver spot. Three months later, running back Fred Lane, who had just been traded to Indianapolis, was shot and killed by his wife in their Charlotte home. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. The team said that "moving the statue is in the interest of public safety." I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons. Email Scott at sfowler@charlotteobserver.com or call him at 704-358-5140, Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Charlotte area sports - only $1 a month. Charlotte had already become a professional sports town with the arrival of the NBA's Hornets in 1988, but those were the days when the city struggled to build an identity as anything other than a regional outpost, still confused with Charleston, S.C. or Charlottesville, Va., and years from becoming a national banking center. "Jerry Richardson's contributions to professional football in the Carolina's are historic,'' current owners David and Nicole Tepper said in a statement. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Richardson wanted $10,000 for the 61 season; the Colts offered $9,750. The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation supported the first-of-its-kind in Mecklenburg County project, which offers urgent care for behavioral health needs. For me to try to explain to you guys what this man has meant to me and my family and so many others would take a lifetime," Davis posted. Jerry Richardson, Panthers founder and former owner, dies at 86, Jaxon Smith-Njigba wants to re-create connection with Bears QB Justin Fields, NFL Scouting Combine shifts mock draft, but Bears needs unchanged, QBs in NFL Draft in haze as Bears play poker with No. Prosecutors dismissed domestic violence charges against Hardy after they said the accuser in the case couldnt be found. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. They have a daughter named Ashley and a son named Mark in addition to their son Jon, who passed away in 2013. The family moved to Fayetteville when Richardson was in elementary school. Muhleman noted the drive that Richardson exhibited in his relentless pursuit of making Carolina the NFLs 29th franchise. It was a very stressful time.. Being a part of the inaugural season is something that I will never forget. Head coach Frank Reich and general manager Scott Fitterer plan on speaking with the veteran quarterback again next week after Tuesday's meeting in Indianapolis. I'd been here for one season and we'd won six games. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Jerry Richardson, the former Baltimore Colts wide receiver who later founded and owned the Carolina Panthers until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. The Panthers head coach knows that is complicated since they're picking ninth, but made it clear his preference would be to find a rookie quarterback and build. The team reached the Super Bowl in the 2003 and 2015 seasons, but lost both times. . It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The concept was simple cheap hamburgers, served to the masses and wildly successful. "And he went above and beyond to bring comfort to a family at its toughest time.". Personal Life: Affair, Girlfriends, Wife, Kids. Jon, Mark, and Ashley Richardson Allen are her three children. Richardson was insistent on his stadium being financed privately. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. Please check your email for a confirmation. The following month the NFL fined Richardson $2.75 million for alleged workplace misconduct. This story was originally published March 2, 2023, 3:51 PM. He still holds the school's single-game record for receiving yards (241 against Newberry in 1956), as well as records for touchdown receptions in a season (9) and career (21). Giants co-owner John Mara once told Richardson during the intense labor talks, according to the MMQB website: I dont know whose heart you got, but that had to be a tough son of a bitch.. Still, Richardson often began his days at that point, at age 51, by showing up unannounced at one of the Hardees in Spartanburg, and either making biscuits, pouring coffee or taking orders at the drive-thru. After purchasing the Panthers, Tepper said he was "contractually obligated" to keep the statue of Richardson, flanked by two panthers, outside of the downtown Charlotte stadium that Richardson built. A former teammate of Johnny Unitas who caught a touchdown pass in the Baltimore Colts victory over the New York Giants in the 1959 NFL championship game, Richardson only spent two years in the NFL before venturing into the restaurant business. The team said that moving the statue is in the interest of public safety. It has never returned. Jerry Richardson Net Worth. Fitterer and head coach Frank Reich also touched on other needs the team has, and what the priorities are for the coming weeks during their interviews at the combine. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. All about former Carolina Panthers owners, net worth, statue, scandals and more. On game days, he'd ride around Bank of America Stadium in his golf cart, greeting fans and taking pictures, relishing the moments. By then, the Panthers were playing their ninth NFL season. Richardson didnt play much for Baltimore. CHARLOTTE Jerry Richardson, the founder of the Carolina Panthers, passed away Wednesday night at age 86. They have three children. How could you ever forget that? Richardson said in the 1995 interview with The Observer. But Richardson still had the $4,864 bonus he earned from the Colts 1959 championship. The plan to finance the stadium largely with his own money was the part that carried the biggest risk, but Richardson told The Observer in 1987 that would be part of the fun. Richardson knew that his physical presence inside a store had a way of motivating his employees. He was 86. Can the Lions fix their defense? Jerry Richardsons contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic, current Panthers owner David Tepper and his wife Nicole said in a statement. The team said that moving the statue is in the interest of public safety. It has never returned. Winthrop actually couldn't have welcomed someone better for their future, despite the fact that she probably appeared to be just another student at the moment. Because so many events in his life seemed to be marked by football time, the procedure began on Super Bowl Sunday, as the Steelers of his close friends the Rooney family were in the process of beating the Cardinals. "I didn't know Mr. Richardson very well at all,'' Olsen said. Read what head coach Frank Reich said to the media during his press conference at the Combine on Wednesday. He married Rosalind Sallenger Richardson. Wofford offered Richardson a partial scholarship worth less than $300, and he took it. The statue had become controversial following the workplace misconduct scandal that served to oust Richardson from his ownership of the Panthers and complicate his legacy. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Richardson was well liked by his players. Scoring in a world championship game is about the ultimate as far as a player is concerned.. Carolina began play in 1995 and Richardson quickly built the Panthers into one of the league's model franchises, while becoming a powerful figure in the NFL. The founder and former owner of the Panthers passed away on Wednesday night. View photos of Richardson from the inaugural season in 1995 through decades of coaches and players in the Panthers community. I was told I couldn't get my company on the New York Stock Exchange before I was 40. Richardson called Archie Manning, Peytons father, to clear the air and believed the situation was overblown. Jerry Richardson entered Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, after completing high school in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The family did not list a cause of death. The magazines investigation portrayed Richardson as an owner who acted inappropriately with a number of his female employees and also directed a racial slur at an African-American scout employed by the Panthers.