5 best free agent signings in Carolina Panthers history

Sam Mills – Former Carolina Panthers LB

Not only did Sam Mills bring the “Keep Pounding” mantra to the Carolina Panthers, but he was a pretty dang good player, as well.

Mills had his prime seasons with the New Orleans Saints prior to his three-year stint with the Panthers. However, he still helped the franchise get its start and was named first-team All-Pro in 1996 at 37 years old.

The ferocious linebacker started every game in his three years with the team and scored a defensive touchdown in 1995 to seal Carolina’s first win in franchise history.

In two of his three seasons, he finished in the top five for NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting and left the Panthers in a better place than when he arrived. He was the first player to be inducted into the team’s Hall of Honor in 1998 and was the only player in it until 2019.

Then, as we all know, he fought through a battle with cancer while working as an assistant coach with the team in 2003 and gave his inspirational Keep Pounding speech before a playoff game that would be the beginning of Carolina’s Super Bowl run.

His statue sits outside of Bank of America Stadium. Mills’ legacy will live through the ages and hopefully, it will come with an induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame later this year.