Jerry Richardson, the founder and former owner of the Carolina Panthers, died late Wednesday.
The Panthers announced his death on Thursday. The cause of death was not revealed. He was 86 years old.
David Tepper bought the Panthers from Richardson in 2018 after Richardson put the team up for sale amid allegations of workplace misconduct that surfaced in 2017. Tepper and his wife Nicole released a statement on Thursday with their condolences to the Richardson family.
"Jerry Richardson's contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic," the statement reads.