Luke Kuechly highlights the Panthers’ next two candidates who should join him in Canton ahead of the Hall of Fame Game
It’s a busy week for former Carolina Panthers star Luke Kuechly ahead of the Hall of Fame Game and Kuechly made it clear which two former teammates deserve to join him next in Canton.
Luke Kuechly’s Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement is a landmark moment for the Carolina Panthers franchise. The former linebacker will be officially inducted in Canton later this weekend with the Panthers also set to face off against the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game in just a few hours.
Kuechly spoke to reporters at Canton ahead of the Thursday’s game and took the time to shine a light on the two former teammates who could follow him next into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“If I’m a team and I’m defending the Carolina Panthers, there’s two guys you have to worry about,” Kuechly explained. “First of all there’s Greg Olsen, because he can do everything – he can line up in the slot, he can put his hand in the ground, block anyone, he can run receiver routes. And then Cam. Those are two guys you have to specifically game plan for. That tells the story.”
Cam Newton’s Hall of Fame candidacy will be a big debate, but it really shouldn’t be
The conversation around Newton’s Hall of Fame candidacy will heat up quickly. The former first overall pick becomes eligible in the next class, and his résumé speaks for itself.
Newton was the 2015 league MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Offensive Rookie of the Year. He earned three Pro Bowl selections and led Carolina to a Super Bowl berth in 2015. Newton spent a total of 10 years with the Panthers while spending another season of his career in New England. For Newton’s case, it’s not just about the accolades.
“I think you look at Cam, and when Cam was on the field, he was the best player on our team,” Kuechly said. “He was the biggest, most physically dominant person on the field. When you would go play AFC teams, and you want out for the coin toss, you could see the faces of the guys walking out thinking ‘Oh my gosh, he’s gigantic’ and I feel like he got bigger on game days.”
What makes Newton’s case particularly compelling is the way he changed the game, and it’s something that needs to be recognized. Outside of Michael Vick, Newton was the modern era’s most complete dual-threat quarterback, combining deep passing ability with a rushing attack that defenses simply could not defend against.
“He was dominant. He could run past guys, through guys, around guys, jump over guys. He could throw the ball anywhere on the field,” Kuechly added. “When he was at his best, he was the best player on the field at all times.”
Newton laid the groundwork for players like Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen to come in and take the league by storm as true dual-threat quarterbacks. Newton’s impact on the future of the position extends well beyond his own stats.
The stats for Greg Olsen clears the Hall of Fame bar
Then there is Olsen, who spent nine seasons in Carolina after beginning his career with the Chicago Bears and then ended his career with the Seattle Seahawks. Olsen was a dominant, consistent force at tight end earning three Pro Bowl selections during his tenure with the Panthers.
Looking at his production, Olsen ranks third all-time in Panthers history with 6,463 receiving yards and fourth in team history with 39 touchdowns. Overall across all three teams, he finished his career with 8,683 yards and 60 touchdowns.
When you stack those numbers against the average Hall of Fame tight end, who averaged 8,075 yards and 59 touchdowns, Olsen clears both categories. That places him in the same conversation as players like Zach Ertz in terms of career production, though he sits well below the 10,000-yard mark posted by Hall of Famers Antonio Gates, Shannon Sharpe, Jason Witten, Tony Gonzalez, and eventually Travis Kelce.
Still, the numbers confirm that Olsen has the credentials of a Hall of Fame caliber player based on the tight ends already enshrined in Canton. He’s just as deserving.
Luke Kuechly laid a great foundation for future players in Carolina
Kuechly’s enshrinement is a celebration on its own, but the bigger picture for Panthers fans is what it represents for the franchise’s legacy. Kuechly was one of the most dominant, most prepared, and most respected players in league history.
Drew Brees, who will be inducted later this weekend as well and faced Kuechly numerous times in the NFC South, said there was no player he respected more in the NFL than Kuechly. Kuechly still goes out of his way to work with the next generation of stars in Carolina and will always be a great resource for this organization. He truly was a special special player and continues to be just as special as a person.
Time will tell if this same outcome awaits Newton and Olsen, two other franchise greats that alongside Kuechly helped take the Carolina Panthers to new heights.
