3 former Panthers who could come out of retirement and play
By Dean Jones
Jonathan Stewart
Another that has all the tools to come out of retirement and play for the Carolina Panthers is Jonathan Stewart. The running back was a formidable figure during his time with the franchise and formed a lethal combination with DeAngelo Williams.
Stewart retired as a Panther in 2019 and currently holds the franchise rushing record. But this might not be for much longer given the presence and productivity of All-Pro Christian McCaffrey.
The options behind McCaffrey appear slim heading into 2020. And Stewart would be a nice foil in short-yardage situations to take some of the pressure off.
This is something he did well alongside Williams throughout his career before he eventually moved on. While the likelihood of bringing back an aging running back who was on the downslope prior to his retirement is slim. Stewart is a likable character that played a huge part in the Panthers’ rise to prominence during the previous decade.
Stewart ended his NFL career with 7,335 rushing yards, 51 touchdowns, 161 receptions, 1,295 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. While the player seems happy in retirement, one could only wonder what damage a duo of McCaffrey and a prime Stewart could do in today’s game.
That is probably all just speculation. But it is fun to think about.