The story of Julius Peppers’ journey into the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor is one that came full circle. But it can’t be told without the few detours that popped up along the way.
On Monday, Darin Gantt of Panthers.com gave us an incredibly detailed and captivating piece of that tale—which included the help of Peppers himself. The franchise legend, who’s North Carolina born and bred, recalled the decision to leave his hometown back in 2010.
“I was happy with my experience,” Peppers said, via Gantt. “I wouldn’t change anything. Well, I would maybe change a couple of things. But as far as leaving and going somewhere else, seeing other how other things work in other places. I was happy with it.”
After spending the first eight seasons of his NFL career in Charlotte, Peppers—a Wilson, N.C. native and University of North Carolina product—signed away to the Chicago Bears on a six-year, $91.5 million deal. He explained that his departure, which wasn’t exactly an amicable split when it occurred, was really about experiencing something new.
“There were a lot of things going on at that time,” he added. “But yeah, the personal growth was one of the things that was like a driving force and that decision. You know, I loved it here. I love the Carolinas. But there was a part of me that just wanted to go, go see something different. I think that if I had gone to high school here and gone to college in, I don’t know, Miami, or New York or wherever, anywhere, any other city, right, and then got drafted by the Panthers, I probably would have had a different feeling.
“But the thing from being born and raised, going to school here, coming to the Panthers, it was lovely; it was a perfect scenario. But I think I got a little bit fatigued with the whole thing. It was overwhelming at times. Whatever you want to call it, the celebrity, you know, it was a little bit much at the time.”
After four years in Chicago, Peppers jumped over to Green Bay for three more in the NFC North. During those seven seasons away from the nest, he collected 63.5 sacks, four Pro Bowl selections and a First-team All-Pro nod.
Peppers would fly back home in 2017, looking to close up his career with a storybook ending alongside the likes of quarterback Cam Newton and linebacker Luke Kuechly. Unfortunately for that bunch, they were unable to bring Charlotte its first Lombardi Trophy over Peppers’ last two seasons.
But all’s well that ends well, and Peppers has ended up right where he belongs.
