Luke Kuechly becoming annual All Pro for Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly named first-team All Pro for performance this season.

Luke Kuechly has been matching wits with opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators since entering the league as the Carolina Panthers first-round (No. 9 overall) pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. A staple in the middle of the defense, Kuechly is working on a Hall of Fame career.

In 2018, the Panthers linebacker missed just one game, the season finale at New Orleans after being eliminated from the playoffs and essentially nothing significant to gain. Along with a handful of other full time players, Kuechly instead patrolled the sidelines and assisted those normally required to back him up in their on field pursuits. The Panthers won 33-14 as reserve linebackers David Mayo and Jermaine Carter combined for 11 tackles.

For his efforts, Kuechly was recently awarded his fifth first-team All Pro nomination, tying Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt for second-most in the league. Earning the distinction every year since 2013, the Panthers captain was a second-team nominee in 2016, Kuechly is becoming synonymous with this elite recognition.

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Different than the Pro Bowl, All Pro honorees are slotted into one team regardless of if they hail from the AFC or NFC and only a limited number per position are selected. There are no injury designations and players who repeatedly appear on the list are commonly referred to as the best at their respective positions – Kuechly is no different.

This season, he recorded 130 tackles, including a franchise record 20 for a loss. Leading the Panthers, Kuechly also recorded an interception and fumble recovery during the year, his twenty-third and twenty-fourth career takeaways.

There is no doubt Kuechly continues to play at a high level for the Panthers defense and is making a strong case for the Hall of Fame and perhaps title of greatest linebacker to ever play the game. Only seven years into what has been a stellar career, the future continues to be bright for Keuchly and the Carolina Panthers.

Bobby Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks and Darius Leonard from the Indianapolis Colts were the other two first-team All Pro selections at the linebacker position.