3 ways Josh Norman can help the Panthers after bombshell return

Josh Norman knows what makes Carolina Panthers tick

Nobody that followed the Carolina Panthers in 2015 will ever forget the contribution made by Josh Norman. His shutdown capabilities were evident throughout the campaign, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors as a result of his exceptional efforts.

While the Panthers couldn’t reach a financial agreement with the cornerback to prevent him from leaving for Washington in free agency, the ethos embedded into Norman by Steve Wilks and Ron Rivera never left.

This is something he explained in a special interview upon signing to Carolina’s practice squad. Norman is keen to continue the traditions started by some Panthers legends, which should ensure a smooth transition back into a franchise he knows extremely well.

"“Everything we’ve done, all this time we’ve been in the league, has been off this mantra of Steve Wilks. When we say ‘Keep Pounding,’ we really mean that in every sense of the word. So the mentality is almost a loss for words; it’s more action than anything else. The pedigree that I stand on, the footsteps I walk in, the Luke Kuechlys, the Charles Johnsons, the Thomas Davises, and the people who stand here now, it’s the ghost of their past. And I carry that.“"

This is the latest example of Wilks returning the Panthers to the culture that made it so successful during the mid-2010s. Something that was completely obliterated by Matt Rhule over his dismal three years as head coach.

Norman knows what makes Carolina football tick. And it’s clear by the player’s comments that he genuinely believes something special is occurring under Wilks.