Carolina Panthers: 30 greatest players in franchise history

Easily one of the most underrated and underappreciated wide receivers in NFL history, Steve Smith Sr. was the heart and soul of the Panthers for so long. While most modern receivers are divas, Smith was a bully who simply made life miserable for defenders on many levels.

Realistically though, Smith was never an elite talent. You’ll never hear his name spoken among the greats like Jerry Rice or Randy Moss. And yet, I think the former Panthers playmaker would be fine with that. Knowing the impact he had on this franchise for 13 years is more than enough to help him sleep at night.

Looking back at the numbers, there’s no denying that he was a superstar for the Carolina passing game. While playing with a rare toughness and physicality, he simply outworked opponents who were often bigger and faster than him. Ultimately, his career production of 836 catches, 12,197 yards and 81 touchdowns speaks for itself.

By the time Smith was done in Carolina, he had corralled five Pro Bowl nods and two All-Pro selections (one as a returner). While that may not be quite as impressive as a couple of other names on this list, Smith’s rock star attitude, durability and status as the heart of the Panthers convinced me to dub him as the Panthers’ all-time greatest player.