For the first time in a very long time, the Carolina Panthers will be entering an NFL season without head coach Ron Rivera, linebacker Luke Kuechly or quarterback Cam Newton. Rivera had served as the team's head coach since 2011. Newton was drafted by the team first overall in the same season. A year later, Kuechly was selected ninth overall.
The trio were the best thing that ever happened to the Panthers. They won the NFC South in three consecutive years, and went to the playoffs four times in nine seasons. In 2015, Newton won MVP and carried the team to a 15-1 record.