Panthers No. 90: 3 reasons Julius Peppers is a first-ballot Hall of Famer
By Dean Jones
3. Stats don’t lie
One only has to look at the statistics surrounding former Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers to see just why he is worthy of a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame selection.
The formidable presence burst onto the scene as the No. 2 overall pick back in 2002 and never looked back. Pepper quickly became an inspirational figure with the Panthers and someone that struck fear into opposing linemen on almost every down.
Although this did not end up with a Super Bowl ring, Peppers’ career stats are eye-popping. His 159.5 sacks recorded is up there with the very best to ever do it. And it further reflects just what a dominant force he was over a substantial period of time.
His stats also saw Peppers rack up 11 interceptions, 82 pass deflections, 52 forced fumbles, 719 combined tackles, 552 solo tackles, and 175 tackles for loss. The defensive end also managed 186 quarterback hits during his career.
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These figures are nothing short of extraordinary and are more than worthy of a first-ballot entry to Canton. The ruthlessness with which he approached business on the field made him a rare commodity and someone that commanded instant respect.
Pepper was a three-time first-team All-Pro pick, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year back in 2002.