1997 Carolina Panthers season

The 1997 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's 3rd season in the National Football League and the 3rd under head coach Dom Capers. They failed to improve upon their 12–4 record in 1996, and make it to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history and finished 7–9. The Panthers appeared on Monday Night Football for the first time in franchise history. After the season, Toi Cook, who had been with the team since 1996, retired.

1997 Carolina Panthers season
Owner	Jerry Richardson
General manager	Bill Polian
Head coach	Dom Capers
Home stadium	Ericsson Stadium
Results
Record	7–9
Division place	2nd NFC West
Playoffs	Did not qualify
All-Pros	KR Michael Bates 1st team TE Wesley Walls 2nd team
Pro Bowlers	TE Wesley Walls
← 1996 Panthers seasons 1998 →

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1997 NFL draft

1997 Carolina Panthers draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	27	Rae Carruth	Wide receiver	Colorado
2	56	Mike Minter	Safety	Nebraska
3	87	Kinnon Tatum	Linebacker	Notre Dame
4	122	Tarek Saleh	Linebacker	Wisconsin
6	187	Matt Finkes	Defensive end	Ohio State
7	228	Kris Mangum	Tight end	Mississippi
Made roster

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Personnel

Staff

1997 Carolina Panthers staff

Front office Owner/founder – Jerry Richardson President – Mark Richardson General manager – Bill Polian Head coaches Head coach – Dom Capers Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Joe Pendry Quarterbacks – John Shoop Running backs – Chick Harris Wide receivers – Richard Williamson Tight ends – Don Breaux Offensive line – Jim McNally Assistant offensive line – Blair Bush

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Vic Fangio Defensive line – Ted Gill Linebackers – Kevin Steele Outside linebackers – Billy Davis Defensive Backs (Secondary) – George Catavolos Defensive quality control – Greg Roman Special teams coaches Special teams – Brad Seely Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Chip Morton

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Roster

1997 Carolina Panthers roster

Quarterbacks (QB)  7 Steve Beuerlein 12 Kerry Collins  9 Shane Matthews Running backs (RB) 21 Tim Biakabutuka 43 Scott Greene FB 23 Anthony Johnson 32 Fred Lane 20 Winslow Oliver PR Wide receivers (WR) 82 Michael Bates KR 84 Rae Carruth 81 Rocket Ismail 89 Ernie Mills 87 Muhsin Muhammad 80 Dwight Stone Tight ends (TE) 49 Luther Broughton 86 Kris Mangum 85 Wesley Walls

Offensive linemen (OL) 78 Blake Brockermeyer T 66 Matt Campbell G 52 Matt Elliott G/T 65 Frank Garcia C 60 Bucky Greeley C 63 Mark Rodenhauser 75 Greg Skrepenak G 70 Todd Stewart T 73 Jamie Wilson T Defensive linemen (DL) 93 Mike Fox DE 71 Greg Kragen NT 69 Les Miller DE 95 Tim Morabito NT 98 Don Sasa DE 99 Ray Seals DE

Linebackers (LB) 54 Carlton Bailey ILB 53 Myron Baker ILB 56 Micheal Barrow OLB 55 Percell Gaskins ILB 57 Lamar Lathon OLB 51 Sam Mills ILB 58 Andre Royal ILB 94 Tarek Saleh OLB 50 Kinnon Tatum ILB 97 Renaldo Turnbull OLB Defensive backs (DB) 24 Clifton Abraham CB 41 Toi Cook CB 37 Chad Cota SS 25 Eric Davis CB 30 Mike Minter FS 27 Damon Pieri SS 38 Tyrone Poole CB 31 Rod Smith CB 40 Pat Terrell FS Special teams (ST)  4 John Kasay K 13 Ken Walter P

Practice squad 90 William Carr NT 72 Waverly Jackson DE 42 Nakia Reddick S 53 active, 5 inactive, 3 practice squad Reserve 83 Mark Carrier WR (IR) 76 Norberto Davidds-Garrido T (IR) 96 Shawn King DE (Susp.) 88 Walter Rasby TE (IR) 22 Marquette Smith RB (IR) Rookies in italics

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	August 31	Washington Redskins	L 10–24	0–1	Ericsson Stadium	72,633
2	September 7	at Atlanta Falcons	W 9–6	1–1	Georgia Dome	51,829
3	September 14	at San Diego Chargers	W 26–7	2–1	Qualcomm Stadium	63,149
4	September 21	Kansas City Chiefs	L 14–35	2–2	Ericsson Stadium	67,402
5	September 29	San Francisco 49ers	L 21–34	2–3	Ericsson Stadium	70,972
6	Bye
7	October 12	at Minnesota Vikings	L 14–21	2–4	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	62,625
8	October 19	at New Orleans Saints	W 13–0	3–4	Louisiana Superdome	50,963
9	October 26	Atlanta Falcons	W 21–12	4–4	Ericsson Stadium	54,675
10	November 2	Oakland Raiders	W 38–14	5–4	Ericsson Stadium	71,064
11	November 9	at Denver Broncos	L 0–34	5–5	Mile High Stadium	71,408
12	November 16	at San Francisco 49ers	L 19–27	5–6	3Com Park	61,500
13	November 23	at St. Louis Rams	W 16–10	6–6	Trans World Dome	64,609
14	November 30	New Orleans Saints	L 13–16	6–7	Ericsson Stadium	57,957
15	December 8	at Dallas Cowboys	W 23–13	7–7	Texas Stadium	63,251
16	December 14	Green Bay Packers	L 10–31	7–8	Ericsson Stadium	70,887
17	December 20	St. Louis Rams	L 18–30	7–9	Ericsson Stadium	58,101
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFC West
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
(1) San Francisco 49ers	13	3	0	.813	375	265	L1
Carolina Panthers	7	9	0	.438	265	314	L2
Atlanta Falcons	7	9	0	.438	320	361	L1
New Orleans Saints	6	10	0	.375	237	327	L1
St. Louis Rams	5	11	0	.313	299	359	W1