Pictures of Richardson holding babies or showing up at pre-game tailgates made their rounds on social media before most games. The team said that "moving the statue is in the interest of public safety." Jerry Richardson, the founding owner of the Carolina Panthers, died Wednesday night at the age of 86, the team announced Thursday in a release on behalf of his family. After he had a heart transplant in Charlotte in 2009, Richardson lived for 14 more years. Richardson teamed with quarterback and future business partner Charlie Bradshaw to become one of the top passing tandems among small colleges. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? Richardsons playing career lasted only two seasons when he walked away from the game at 25 following a dispute over $250. They would later marry and have three children. 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.. His other. 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. 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. I've been told a lot of things.". After the Baltimore Colts drafted Richardson in the 13th round, he showed up for training camp in 1959 as one of 19 receivers fighting for three spots on the 36-man roster. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. The team called the statue a public safety hazard at the time, citing the nightly social justice marches then occurring in Charlotte. Funeral services will be private. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. Richardson ended the 59 regular season with seven receptions and three touchdowns, but saved his most memorable play for the title game against the New York Giants (the Super Bowl did not yet exist). Jerry Richardsons contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic," current Panthers owner David Tepper and his wife Nicole said in a statement. But as he stepped back from some of his day-to-day work with the team, his influence within the NFL remained large. Playing for the Browns that day was offensive tackle Mike McCormack, whom Richardson would later hire as the Panthers first president. Before that, Richardson was revered for bringing the Panthers to the NFL in 1995 and helping the team reach Super Bowls after the 2003 and 2015 seasons. 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. In 1987, Richardson heard on the radio that businessman George Shinn had won his bid to bring an NBA franchise to Charlotte. He did so with lots of help, including the necessary financial backing from close friend and Charlotte mega-banker Hugh McColl Jr. Richardsons son Mark was also instrumental in the effort. 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. The following month the NFL fined Richardson $2.75 million for alleged workplace misconduct. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. But until Oct. 26, 1993 the day Richardson was awarded the NFL's 29th franchise it was all still a dream, to everyone but Richardson. Richardson is survived by his wife, Rosalind, son Mark and daughter Ashley Richardson Allen. . 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. It revealed that Richardsons assistant would escort female employees to Richardsons office and then leave. "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. https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/02/panthers-owner-david-tepper-jerry-richardson/, Report: Panthers free agent RB D'Onta Foreman expected to be 'hot commodity', Panthers legend Steve Smith Sr. officially opens mental health facility, Panthers OC Thomas Brown receives praise from 2023 NFL draft prospect, Will Levis: Breaking down film with Frank Reich, Panthers was fun, Panthers great Cam Newton honors late Jerry Richardson, Report: Panthers will not use franchise tag this offseason, Former Panthers react to passing of team founder Jerry Richardson, Report: Panthers inquire about trade for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, Biggest takeaways from the Panthers' combine media availability, 1 player Panthers fans should watch for each day of the combine, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. As a football fan, he has naming rights to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's football field. Richardson was well liked by his players. Richardson never addressed the allegations against him publicly. 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. Richardson remained confident throughout the process, getting a license plate that read PNTHERS in 1989 four years before his ownership group would actually be awarded a team. Richardson had a pacemaker/defibrillator inserted in his heart in 2008, and doctors told him he would need a heart transplant. I dont know whether youd call it stubbornness or not, Richardson later told the Observer. Please keep the Richardson family in your prayers today! A 1987 Observer story noted that Richardsons Spartan Food Systems restaurant colossus at that point included 2,000 Hardees, Quincys and Dennys restaurants. ", "I will always be thankful to Mr. Richardson for providing me with the opportunity to play for the Panthers. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. He played football at Fayetteville High 6-3, 150-pound receiver known as Stick for his slender frame who won the teams Competitor Trophy. 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 . He and I spent a tremendous amount of time talking about his vision for what the Panthers could do for the Carolinas. 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). . When Carolina received an NFL team from the League in 1993, Richardson became the second former NFL player to hold the position of the owner. 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. And he went above and beyond to bring love and comfort to a family at its toughest time.". Though, he is 1.91 m tall, he weighs about 84 kg. 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. 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. With the news also came a statement from current owner David Tepper and wife . 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. He was 86. (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. 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. But underlying differences in how the team should be run made the owner ask his sons to resign in late August of 2009, about six months after Jerry Richardsons heart transplant. 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. 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 PSL would cost anywhere from $600 to $5400 per ticket and could later be re-sold or handed down in the right-holders will. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. After the Panthers clinched the NFC South during their second Super Bowl season in 2015, quarterback Cam Newton got Richardson to dab during a raucous locker-room celebration in New Orleans. He made his private plane available to tight end Greg Olsen before Olsens wife delivered a son who was born with a congenital heart defect. A new home for Michael Thomas? All the other competitors at the time St. Louis, Baltimore, Jacksonville and Memphis had in place a rent-free stadium to be paid for by public funds. 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. 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. 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. Who helped themselves and who took a misstep on the second day of workouts at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine? The Richardsonslived in North Carolina their entire lives. A native son who was shaped by the region, his . He never publicly explained the rift with his sons. He sold the team to Tepper, a hedge fund owner, in May 2018 for a then-NFL record $2.27 billion. Along the way, decisions were made that changed the face of sports business. Former Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has died at age 86. "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. Jerome Johnson Richardson Sr. (July 18, 1936 - March 1, 2023) was an American businessman, football player, and owner in the National Football League (NFL). Richardson is survived by his wife, Rosalind, son Mark and daughter Ashley Richardson Allen. Nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild are also included in their family. He ultimately became a millionaire and used that money to purchase the Panthers for $206 million. 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. Im 58 years old, and I dont hunt, I dont fish, and I dont play golf. At Wofford, Richardson majored in psychology, worked as a dormitory hall manager and joined the ROTC. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The statue now resides in an undisclosed storage facility. Conservative by nature, Richardson once cautioned Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton against getting tattoos and piercings after drafting the quarterback No. The sale of the Panthers for a reported $2.275 billion followed the scandal that was uncovered by Sports Illustrated magazine in December 2017. The Panthers defeated the Buccaneers 21-14. Richardson took a lower public profile in later years as his gait and speech slowed he went nine years between press conferences at one point. We wish them much peace and comfort.. Richardson, who was born July 18, 1936. 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. Richardson then accompanied the Olsens to Boston for a medical consultation. Richardson was born in Spring Hope, North Carolina, in 1936. Rajeeta Kochhar? 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 family did not own a car until Jerry Richardson was 16. "I didn't know Mr. Richardson very well at all,'' Olsen said. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our. The Carolina Panthers are a testament to his extraordinary and tireless dedication to the community.But his league-first attitude as seen through his leadership of numerous NFL committees, including the Stadium Committee and Management Council Executive Committee, 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.As a former player himself, Jerry cared deeply about the welfare of players and the labor agreements he helped negotiate have led to improved pay and benefits for generations of players.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. 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. A 13-foot, 4500-pound statue of Richardson, given to him by his ownership partners in 2016 and placed outside Bank of America Stadium, was removed in June 2020 by the Panthers. They have a daughter named Ashley and a son named Mark in addition to their son Jon, who passed away in 2013. He loved the NFL so much that he kept the leagues logo a shield painted on the 50-yard line at Bank of America Stadium, rather than a team logo like nearly every other team in the league. He was 86. "He called me and told my wife and I to meet him at the airport, and he put us on his plane and took us up to Boston Children's Hospital to make sure we got the best care and the best team to look at him. With the news also came a statement from current owner David Tepper and wife Nicole, who thanked Richardson for what he had done for them and the organization. Can the Lions fix their defense? Stephanie & I were saddened to learn of the passing of Jerry Richardson, Rivera said on social media. He married Rosalind Sallenger Richardson. By then, the Panthers were playing their ninth NFL season. He fired both his sons Mark, the team president, and Jon, the director of stadium operations following a sibling squabble at the stadium in front of other employees while he was recovering from a heart transplant in 2009. 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. Being a part of the inaugural season is something that I will never forget. When I went through my injuries and everyone told him it was time to move on and turn the page he said no. It was a miracle. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? In the late 1950s, Rosalind Sallenger Richardson studied at Winthrop University. 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. That got Richardson seriously thinking about trying to bring an NFL team to Charlotte. He overcame prostate cancer and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2002. "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. Richardson died. Jerry Richardson, the self-made millionaire who brought the NFL to Charlotte and founded the Carolina Panthers, died Wednesday. Theres nothing Id rather do with my time than be supportive of the Carolina Panthers.. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful.. The third head coach Richardson hired was John Fox in 2002, who would last for nine years before Richardson fired him and hired Ron Rivera following the 2010 season. After he had a heart transplant in Charlotte in 2009, Richardson lived for 14 more years. 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. Although Richardson once promised the Panthers would win a Super Bowl within 10 years of beginning play in 1995, they never did. Jansen Panettieres cause of death revealed by Hayden Panettiere and his family. He gave me a chance when no one else would! In 2009, he had a successful heart transplant at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Richardson said in 2018 his greatest mission in life was bringing the NFL to the Carolinas. We wish them much peace and comfort.". As with other captains of industry, Richardson's name adorns a number of buildings throughout the two states, but few places carry it as proudly as his alma mater. Richardson began the process of building a football team in July of 1987, when he met with former Bank of America CEO and Charlotte icon Hugh McColl to discuss his dream of bringing the sport to his home state. A lot of times people get to some level and they dont like to take a risk, he said. The following month the NFL fined Richardson $2.75 million for alleged workplace misconduct. He also had a policy where fans couldnt remove their shirts during games. His contributions to Wofford to date total more than $260 million, including capital upgrades. Their country home had no indoor plumbing. Rosalind Sallenger, Richardsons wife, also studied at Winthrop University in the late 1950s. He used his championship bonus money to open the first Hardee's in Spartanburg, South Carolina close to where he had attended Wofford College. The braver players like linebacker Kevin Greene and Delhomme would call him Big Cat. He was Mister Richardson to nearly everyone else in the building at Bank of America Stadium, with many shortening that name to simply Mister when referring to the team owner. Mr. Richardson claims that Wofford has had the biggest impact on his achievement in life, with no other influence coming close. 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. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. Their football stadium already had a name, but the school's new basketball arena and athletic facility still bear his, as does the football stadium at UNC Charlotte. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. But Richardson's 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. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson died Wednesday night at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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. A public celebration of his life will be held at a later date. He was fined $2.75 million by the NFL after an extensive investigation into the allegations following a story by Sports Illustrated in which four former employees anonymously stated they reached a financial settlement with Richardson in exchange for silence. The concept was simple cheap hamburgers, served to the masses and wildly successful. See video, posts and updates straight from Indianapolis as Panthers leaders speak to the media. Jerry Richardson family: Who are wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson and children Ashley, Jon and Mark? 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 never addressed the allegations against him publicly. "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. The stadium was named "Jerry Richardson Stadium" after his donation of $10 Million. Jerry Richardsons contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic. "On the NFL's behalf, I extend our sincere condolences to Jerry's wife, Rosalind, and their family.". 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.". Entering the last preseason game before final cuts, Richardson and Michigan States John Lewis were battling for the final receiver spot. The team reached the Super Bowl in the 2003 and 2015 seasons, but lost both times. Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints weather report: What is the temperature at FirstEnergy stadium? He began to slow down as he entered his mid-60s, battling heart issues. He also had a policy where fans weren't allowed to remove their shirts during games. Here you will get Jerry Richardson's net worth, weight, height net worth, girlfriend, educational qualification and complete bio. Here's everything we know, Everything you need to know about Geno Smith's contract negotiations, The most memorable pre-NFL draft workouts ever: Coaches, scouts, execs make their picks, 2023 NFL franchise tag tracker: Raiders tag Josh Jacobs, the NFL's rushing leader. Wofford offered Richardson a partial scholarship worth less than $300, and he took it. But when you get to some of them, the word moves fast to the rest of them.. But Richardson also showed compassion for his players. One of our dear friends said, God does not give out hearts lightly, Rosalind Richardson told The Observer two weeks after the surgery. "Condolences to Rosalind, Ashley, & Mark and the Richardson family.''. Jerry Richardson entered Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, after completing high school in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Jerry Richardson Wife, Children Richardson's marital status was married. Richardson founded the. , , , Tunisha Sharma , , 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. Ralph Waclawicz/Call (212) 686-8900 or e-mail info@wireimage.com to license WireImage images. Olsen and his wife Kara later named the child Trent Jerry Olsen after Richardson.