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2001 Carolina Panthers season

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The 2001 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's 7th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 3rd and final under head coach George Seifert. They tried to improve upon their 7–9 record in 2000, and make it to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history; however, the Panthers instead suffered one of the worst seasons in NFL history, en route to going 1–15.

2001 Carolina Panthers season
OwnerJerry Richardson
Head coachGeorge Seifert
Home fieldEricsson Stadium
Results
Record1–15
Division place5th NFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersTE Wesley Walls
WR Steve Smith
P Todd Sauerbrun
The New England Patriots at Carolina in Week 17 on January 6, 2002

The Panthers defeated the Minnesota Vikings in their opening game of the season, and then became the first team in the Super Bowl era to lose fifteen consecutive games afterwards. The Panthers were the only team since the expansion to 16 games in 1978 to have won their opener and lose the remainder of the season until the 2020 Jacksonville Jaguars became the second team to accomplish this feat.[1]

The Panthers consequently beat the record for most consecutive losses during a single NFL season that had been shared by the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1980 New Orleans Saints, 1981 Baltimore Colts and 1990 New England Patriots. This record has since been broken by two winless teams: the 2008 Detroit Lions and 2017 Cleveland Browns. The 2001 Panthers also became the seventh team to finish 1–15.

By the end of the season, the Panthers had become so incapacitated that only about 16,000 fans showed up to see them play in their finale against the New England Patriots, who eventually went on to win Super Bowl XXXVI. Coincidentally, the Panthers would face the Patriots two seasons later in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Following their terrible season, head coach George Seifert was fired and replaced by New York Giants defensive coordinator John Fox.

Despite having the worst record in the league, the Panthers did not have the number-one overall draft pick in the 2002 NFL draft due to the debut season of the expansion Houston Texans. This feat would be repeated in 2023, when the Panthers traded their number-one overall draft pick to the Chicago Bears.

In 2015, the Panthers went 15–1, becoming the first team in NFL history to have both 15 losses and 15 wins in a season; the 2023 team also went on to have a 15 loss season, finishing 2–15. To date, this remains the Panthers' worst season in franchise history.

Offseason

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NFL Draft

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Main article: 2001 NFL Draft
2001 Carolina Panthers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 11 Dan Morgan *  Linebacker Miami (FL)
2 44 Kris Jenkins *  Defensive tackle Maryland
3 74 Steve Smith *  Wide receiver Utah
4 106 Chris Weinke  Quarterback Florida State
5 143 Jarrod Cooper  Defensive back Kansas State
6 175 Dee Brown  Running back Syracuse
7 211 Louis Williams  Center Louisiana State
7 227 Mike Roberg  Tight end Idaho
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[2]

Undrafted free agents

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2001 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Nick Goings Running back Pittsburgh
Nathan Hodel Long snapper Illinois

Personnel

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Staff

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2001 Carolina Panthers staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning


[3]

Roster

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2001 Carolina Panthers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 9 reserve, 4 practice squad

Regular season

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Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 9 at Minnesota Vikings W 24–13 1–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap
2[A] September 23 at Atlanta Falcons L 16–24 1–1 Georgia Dome Recap
3 September 30 Green Bay Packers L 7–28 1–2 Ericsson Stadium Recap
4 October 7 at San Francisco 49ers L 14–24 1–3 3Com Park Recap
5 October 14 New Orleans Saints L 25–27 1–4 Ericsson Stadium Recap
6 October 21 at Washington Redskins L 14–17 (OT) 1–5 FedExField Recap
7 October 28 New York Jets L 12–13 1–6 Ericsson Stadium Recap
8 November 4 at Miami Dolphins L 6–23 1–7 Pro Player Stadium Recap
9 November 11 at St. Louis Rams L 14–48 1–8 Dome at America's Center Recap
10 November 18 San Francisco 49ers L 22–25 (OT) 1–9 Ericsson Stadium Recap
11 November 25 Atlanta Falcons L 7–10 1–10 Ericsson Stadium Recap
12 December 2 at New Orleans Saints L 23–27 1–11 Louisiana Superdome Recap
13 December 9 at Buffalo Bills L 24–25 1–12 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
14 Bye
15 December 23 St. Louis Rams L 32–38 1–13 Ericsson Stadium Recap
16 December 30 Arizona Cardinals L 7–30 1–14 Ericsson Stadium Recap
17[A] January 6 New England Patriots L 6–38 1–15 Ericsson Stadium Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

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Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings

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Week 1: Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 3 7724
Vikings 0 0 13013

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

This would be Carolina's only victory of the 2001 season. The Panthers would not win again until week 1 of the 2002 season.

Week 2: at Atlanta Falcons

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Week 2: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 3 7 3316
Falcons 7 3 7724

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: September 23
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: None (played indoors)
  • Game attendance: 47,804
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ray Bentley, Jeff Lageman, Matt Morrison
  • Recap
Game information

Week 3: vs. Green Bay Packers

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Week 3: Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Packers 0 6 15728
Panthers 0 7 007

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: September 30
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
  • Game attendance: 73,120
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Bill Maas, Paul Butler
  • Recap
Game information

Week 4: at San Francisco 49ers

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Week 4: Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 7 7014
49ers 0 10 14024

at 3Com Park, San Francisco, California

Week 5: vs. New Orleans Saints

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Week 5: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Saints 10 7 3727
Panthers 0 6 61325

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: October 14
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,049
  • Referee: Ron Winter
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ray Bentley, John Jurkovic, Paul Butler
  • Recap

Week 6: at Washington Redskins

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Week 6: Carolina Panthers at Washington Redskins – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Panthers 7 0 07014
Redskins 0 0 014317

at FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland

Week 7: vs. New York Jets

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Week 7: New York Jets at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jets 7 0 3313
Panthers 6 3 3012

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

Both offenses struggled throughout the game as the Jets gained 358 yards of total offense, but turned the ball over four times; conversely, the Panthers only had one turnover, but only gained 162 yards of total offense. Carolina scored first, with Rashard Anderson recovering a fumble and returning it 94 yards for a touchdown, but John Kasay missed the extra point. New York would respond late in the second quarter, with Chris Hayes returning a blocked punt 7 yards for a touchdown. The Panthers would score six unanswered points with a pair of 45-yard field goals from Kasay to go up 12–7 early in the third. However, Kasay's missed extra point would prove to be costly as the Jets would respond with two field goals of their own to win 13–12.

Week 8: at Miami Dolphins

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Week 8: Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 3 3 006
Dolphins 3 10 01023

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: November 4
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,597
  • Referee: Ron Blum
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Bill Maas, Joe Zagacki
  • Recap

Week 9: at St. Louis Rams

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Week 9: Carolina Panthers at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 7 7014
Rams 21 10 14348

at Dome at America's Center, St. Louis, Missouri

Week 10: vs. San Francisco 49ers

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Week 10: San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
49ers 0 7 78325
Panthers 7 3 39022

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: November 18
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,665
  • Referee: Gerry Austin
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Tim Green, Paul Butler
  • Recap

Week 11: vs. Atlanta Falcons

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Week 11: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 3 7 0010
Panthers 0 0 077

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: November 25
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,234
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ray Bentley, Jeff Lageman, D.J. Johnson
  • Recap

Week 12: at New Orleans Saints

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Week 12: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 0 31323
Saints 0 10 31427

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: December 2
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: None (played indoors)
  • Game attendance: 70,020
  • Referee: Bill Leavy
  • TV announcers (Fox): Scott Graham, Sean Jones, Joe Trahan
  • Recap

Week 13: at Buffalo Bills

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Week 13: Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 3 21 0024
Bills 3 10 6625

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: December 9
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 44,549
  • Referee: Bill Carollo
  • TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Ray Bentley, Bob Trimble
  • Recap

Week 15: vs. St. Louis Rams

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Week 15: St. Louis Rams at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams 7 14 10738
Panthers 7 6 10932

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: December 23
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,438
  • Referee: Gerry Austin
  • TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Brian Baldinger
  • Recap

Week 16: vs. Arizona Cardinals

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Week 16: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 7 20 3030
Panthers 0 7 007

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: December 30
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,025
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ray Bentley, Jeff Lageman, Paul Butler
  • Recap

Week 17: vs. New England Patriots

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Week 17: New England Patriots at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Patriots 10 0 141438
Panthers 0 3 306

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: January 6, 2002
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 71,907
  • Referee: Tom White
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Craig James, Beasley Reece
  • Recap
Game information

With the loss, the Panthers lost their 15th game in a row and finished the season at 1–15. The Panthers finished with the worst record in the NFL, but only received the second overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft due to the first overall pick being awarded to the Houston Texans, an expansion team. This would be the last game the Panthers played as a member of the NFC West as they were moved to the newly formed NFC South starting next season. Carolina was joined by New Orleans, Atlanta (both also coming from the NFC West), and Tampa Bay (from the NFC Central, which was renamed to the NFC North).

Head coach George Seifert would be fired the following day, finishing his tenure at Carolina with a record of 16–32 and zero playoff appearances.[4]

Standings

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NFC West
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(1) St. Louis Rams 14 2 0 .875 503 273 W6
(5) San Francisco 49ers 12 4 0 .750 409 282 W1
New Orleans Saints 7 9 0 .438 333 409 L4
Atlanta Falcons 7 9 0 .438 291 377 L2
Carolina Panthers 1 15 0 .063 253 410 L15

Notes

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  1. ^ a b The Panthers were originally scheduled to host the New England Patriots during Week 2 of the original NFL schedule (September 16) at Ericcson Stadium. However, due to the September 11 attacks, the game was rescheduled to Week 17.

References

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  1. ^ Barney, Justin (January 4, 2021). "Jaguars end worst season ever with 15th straight loss". WJXT. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "2001 Carolina Panthers Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  3. ^ "Assistant Coaches". Panthers.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  4. ^ "Seifert fired by Panthers after 1–15 season". Quad-City Times. Davenport, Iowa. Associated Press. January 7, 2002. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
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