Last year, Haason Reddick had let it be known that he didn’t want to leave the Carolina Panthers. But it seems like they left him no other choice.
During his media availability for Monday’s Super Bowl LVII Opening Night, Reddick was asked why he wanted to test the waters of free agency following what would be his one and only season in Charlotte. The Philadelphia Eagles star linebacker, though, didn’t exactly believe it panned out that way.
Here was his response:
Haason Reddick: “It wasn’t that I wanted to test free agency. Carolina just had other plans and other directions they wanted to go to.”#PFNSB57 #Panthers pic.twitter.com/bk2eSpf81B
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) February 7, 2023
After four years with the Arizona Cardinals, the former 13th overall pick signed off to Carolina on a one-year, $6 million pact. Reddick, under his old Temple University coaches in Matt Rhule and Phil Snow, shined for the Panthers—amassing a team-leading 11.0 sacks, 18 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles.
Prior to the conclusion of that standout campaign, Reddick told reporters he was hoping to stick around.
“I love it here,” Reddick said in December of 2021. “If the cards that I’m dealt falls and I end up back here, I’d love to be here. I’ve grown to love the players here. I know the coaching staff here. I’ve grown to love the fans. The fans have shown me so much love and support coming here, like, it’s ridiculous. It’s crazy.”
Unfortunately, the team’s braintrust didn’t show him that type of love—or at least as much as the Eagles were willing to offer. Reddick would then be swooped up by Philly that spring, to the tune of a three-year, $45 million deal.
That investment has, obviously, been paying off—as Reddick recorded a career-high 16.0 sacks this past season along with a league-leading five forced fumbles. And considering that the Panthers fumbled him away, perhaps we can bring that total up to six.
