He went on to make his fortune in the restaurant business, becoming chief executive officer of Flagstar, the sixth-largest food service company in the country at the time. He has given considerable gifts to . A former teammate of Johnny Unitas who caught a touchdown pass in the Baltimore Colts' victory over the New York Giants in the 1959 NFL championship game, Richardson only spent two years in the NFL before venturing into the restaurant business. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. $2 Billion. Richardson beat long odds to earn the right to land a franchise. While hitchhiking with some Wofford friends at Pawleys Island, S.C., during the summer of 1957, he met a Winthrop student and former Florence High cheerleader named Rosalind Sallenger. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton). He sold the team to Tepper, a hedge fund owner, in May 2018 for a then-NFL record $2.27 billion. He was fined $2.75 million by the NFL after an extensive investigation into the allegations following a story by Sports Illustrated in which four former employees anonymously stated they reached a financial settlement with Richardson in exchange for silence. View photos of Richardson from the inaugural season in 1995 through decades of coaches and players in the Panthers community. During the year in which Richardson waited for and later recovered from his heart transplants, his two sons led the organization. I dont have any hobbies. RIP Mr. Richardson pic.twitter.com/o27b6O5Czt. About the time he came into this world, thunder burst and lightning flashed. He was 86. Although Richardson once promised the Panthers would win a Super Bowl "within 10 years" of beginning play in 1995, they never did. If he succeeded, he would become only the second NFL owner ever to both play in the league and own a team the other being George Halas. Quarterback Jake Delhomme, who led the Panthers to their first Super Bowl in the 2003 season, said Richardson was well respected in the locker room and great to me and every player who played for him.. Chad Reuter provides a stock report from Indianapolis. Date of Birth: Jul 11, 1936 (86 years old) CHARLOTTE, N.C. Jerry Richardson, the former Baltimore Colts wide receiver who later founded and owned the Carolina Panthers until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. But I was a player on his team who needed help and he was able to provide it. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images). He fired both his sons Mark, the team president, and Jon, the director of stadium operations following a sibling squabble at the stadium in front of other employees while he was recovering from a heart transplant in 2009. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The plan to finance the stadium largely with his own money was the part that carried the biggest risk, but Richardson told The Observer in 1987 that would be part of the fun. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? An explanation of winter vs nesting robins locally, winter aconite in snow, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and ice shacks being down on Lake Winnebago are among the notes from around Chicago outdoors. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? When players would get into trouble, Richardson would invite them to his home and make them sit in a formal room listening to the minutes tick away on a grandfather clock before Richardson was ready to see them. Richardson, after numerous accusations of workplace misconduct, sold the Panthers to Tepper back in 2018. But as he stepped back from some of his day-to-day work with the team, his influence within the NFL remained large. . But before he could ride around those games and bask in the adulation of having brought the NFL to the Carolinas, he had to deliver them. During its very 1st season, he triumphed over the NFL Super Bowl. I dont know whether youd call it stubbornness or not, Richardson later told the Observer. They would later marry and have three children. pic.twitter.com/9Cjn0PSYW2. Deeply rooted in both Carolinas and once a wide receiver for the Baltimore Colts, Richardson persuaded the NFL to put an expansion team in Charlotte in 1993. Richardson ended the 59 regular season with seven receptions and three touchdowns, but saved his most memorable play for the title game against the New York Giants (the Super Bowl did not yet exist). "I was able to become the player that I became because of him, because he encouraged and motivated me to Keep Pounding. He was later released. Richardson had heart problems at some point during his life. In 2000, wide receiver Rae Carruth, a former first-round draft pick, was convicted on a murder conspiracy charge in connection with the drive-by shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend. Conservative by nature, Richardson once cautioned Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton against getting tattoos and piercings after drafting the quarterback No. "He called me and told my wife and I to meet him at the airport, and he put us on his plane and took us up to Boston Children's Hospital to make sure we got the best care and the best team to look at him. On Thursday afternoon, the Carolina Panthers announced the passing of team founder and former owner Jerry Richardson. The lack of consistency irritated Richardson, as Carolina failed to put together back-to-back winning seasons during his 23 seasons as owner despite hiring four coaches: Dom Capers, George Seifert, John Fox and Ron Rivera. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. Too grueling. The Dallas Cowboys will place the franchise tag on running back Tony Pollard if the two sides cannot reach a long-term deal before March 7's deadline, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday, per sources. But until Oct. 26, 1993 the day Richardson was awarded the NFL's 29th franchise it was all still a dream, to everyone but Richardson. Within hours of the report, Richardson announced his decision to sell the team. Also Read: What is enlarged heart? His survivors include his wife Rosalind and two of their three children Mark and Ashley. A 13-foot, 4500-pound statue of Richardson, given to him by his ownership partners in 2016 and placed outside Bank of America Stadium, was removed in June 2020 by the Panthers. It was also reported he used a racial slur directed toward a team scout. He began to slow down as he entered his mid-60s, battling heart issues. "With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave the NFL fans here a team to call their own. He attended Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he was a star tight end, and still holds the school's single-game record for receiving yards (241 against Newberry College in 1956). His mother worked as a sales clerk at a womens dress shop. He played football at Fayetteville High 6-3, 150-pound receiver known as Stick for his slender frame who won the teams Competitor Trophy. Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFL's most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. In 23 NFL seasons with Richardson as owner, the Panthers qualified for two Super Bowls, in the 2003 and 2015 postseason, although they lost both games. Jerry Richardson, the founder of the American football team Carolina Panthers, has died at the age of 86. One former female employee recalled Richardson arriving barefoot and asking for a foot massage.. Jerry Richardson Age, Wiki, Biography Carruth was imprisoned for 16 years. That concept was iffy enough that well-known oddsmaker Danny Sheridan gave Charlotte 50-1 odds of getting an NFL team in 1989. Richardson survived a series of serious health-related issues in his later years. Then, in his rolling Southern. But his league-first attitude as seen through his leadership of numerous NFL committees helped pave the way for a series of public-private stadium partnerships throughout the country, and collective bargaining agreements that continue to support the growth of the game. The team called the statue a public safety hazard at the time, citing the nightly social justice marches then occurring in Charlotte. He made his private plane available to tight end Greg Olsen before Olsens wife delivered a son who was born with a congenital heart defect. While Richardson seldom held press conferences even during the early seasons of the Panthers franchise, his public appearances became far less frequent in his later years. "I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons," Rivera posted. He was 86. The family did not list a cause of death. When Carolina received an NFL team from the League in 1993, Richardson became the second former NFL player to hold the position of the owner. He and I spent a tremendous amount of time talking about his vision for what the Panthers could do for the Carolinas. They have three children. On game days, he'd ride around Bank of America Stadium in his golf cart, greeting fans and taking pictures, relishing the moments. "I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons," Rivera said on social media. Richardson founded the. The Ohio State product feels good about his ability as a passer and extending plays with his legs, but he's just as willing to put in the work to grow at the next level. He was 86.. Read what head coach Frank Reich said to the media during his press conference at the Combine on Wednesday. Richardson didnt play much for Baltimore. In the year 2002, he received the heart trouble and had . He was 86. Jerry Richardson entered Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, after completing high school in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He calls and says, Jake, the sun came out today at my house, did it come out at yours?, Delhomme told The Associated Press on Thursday. Jerry Richardson's age is 86 years old as of today's date 15th February 2023 having been born on 18 July 1936. He was 86. ", "Jerry Richardson gave me my first opportunity to be a head coach, and I'll always be thankful for that. Jerome Johnson Richardson Sr. (July 18, 1936 - March 1, 2023) was an American businessman, football player, and owner in the National Football League (NFL). The Carolina Panthers founder and former owner died on March 1, 2023. The Panthers head coach knows that is complicated since they're picking ninth, but made it clear his preference would be to find a rookie quarterback and build. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. Delhomme recalls getting a phone call from Richardson a couple of days after he had a disastrous four-turnover performance in a 33-13 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs in the 2008 season. Charlotte had already become a professional sports town with the arrival of the NBA's Hornets in 1988, but those were the days when the city struggled to build an identity as anything other than a regional outpost, still confused with Charleston, S.C. or Charlottesville, Va., and years from becoming a national banking center. Email Scott at sfowler@charlotteobserver.com or call him at 704-358-5140, Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Charlotte area sports - only $1 a month. He used his championship bonus money to open the first Hardees in Spartanburg, South Carolina close to where he had attended Wofford College. The Richardsons have a total of nine grandchildren. He never publicly explained the rift with his sons. Jansen Panettieres cause of death revealed by Hayden Panettiere and his family. And in 2014 star defensive end Greg Hardy was placed on a commissioner's exempt list after he was accused of allegedly throwing his girlfriend on to furniture and threatening to kill her. Rest up my friend!''. The sale of the Panthers for a reported $2.275 billion followed the scandal that was uncovered by Sports Illustrated magazine in December 2017. His survivors include his wife Rosalind and two of their three children Mark and Ashley. The resignations were a shocking development that left Richardson as the only family member involved in the teams day-to-day operations. His height is 1.91 m tall, and his weight is 84 kg. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. A family spokesman said Thursday that Richardson died peacefully last night at his Charlotte home.. Two months after going on the donor waiting list, Richardson, then 72, received his transplant on Super Bowl Sunday in 2009 during a five-hour procedure at Carolinas Medical Center. He would still make his rounds on his golf cart before many home games, however, greeting fans, players and coaches and shaking their hands. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. Can the Lions fix their defense? The entire family lives in Charlotte. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. That team went 15-1 in the regular season but would eventually lose to Denver in the Super Bowl, 24-10, as the championship Richardson wanted the most barely eluded him again. It was widely assumed Richardson would hold onto the team until his death. At Wofford, Richardson majored in psychology, worked as a dormitory hall manager and joined the ROTC. Here you will get Jerry Richardson's net worth, weight, height net worth, girlfriend, educational qualification and complete bio. The family moved to Fayetteville when Richardson was in elementary school. The former president of the Panthers stadium was their son Jon Richardson. In 2016, Jerry Richardson made donations to establish the Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts on the Wofford College campus in honor of his wife of more than 60 years. Early life and college [ edit] Richardson was born in Spring Hope, North Carolina. His other son, Jon, died in 2013 at age 53 after a lengthy battle with cancer. With the news also came a statement from current owner David Tepper and wife Nicole, who thanked Richardson for what he had done for them and the organization. When linebacker Thomas Davis retired in 2021, he thanked Richardson for believing in him and keeping him on the roster despite having suffered three torn ACLs in the same knee. Info. He did so with lots of help, including the necessary financial backing from close friend and Charlotte mega-banker Hugh McColl Jr. Richardsons son Mark was also instrumental in the effort. Still, Richardson often began his days at that point, at age 51, by showing up unannounced at one of the Hardees in Spartanburg, and either making biscuits, pouring coffee or taking orders at the drive-thru. A bypass surgery in 2002 was just the beginning, and after years of treatments and other procedures, he received a heart transplant on Feb. 2, 2009, at Carolinas Medical Center. "The Carolina Panthers are a testament to his extraordinary and tireless dedication to the community.But his league-first attitude as seen through his leadership of numerous NFL committees, including the Stadium Committee and Management Council Executive Committee, helped pave the way for a series of public-private stadium partnerships throughout the country, and collective bargaining agreements that continue to support the growth of the game. Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson waves to the Panthers fans during warmups prior to their playoff game against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on January 08, 2006. 2 days ago The Panthers were impressed with the Alabama quarterback after meeting him this week, and they've acknowledged the possibility of trading up to get in position for him. That would be real boring.. Im 58 years old, and I dont hunt, I dont fish, and I dont play golf. Richardson then accompanied the Olsens to Boston for a medical consultation. The Panthers began playing in 1995 and Richardson owned them until 2018, when he sold the team under pressure to current owner David Tepper. The team reached the Super Bowl in the 2003 and 2015 seasons, but lost both times. Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFLs most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. Before that, Richardson was revered for bringing the Panthers to the NFL in 1995 and helping the team reach Super Bowls after the 2003 and 2015 seasons. Personal Life: Affair, Girlfriends, Wife, Kids. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton), Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme, left, talks with team owner Jerry Richardson, right, during the NFL team's football training camp in Spartanburg, S.C., on Saturday, July 26, 2008. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's cap hit might be rising in 2023, but owner Jerry Jones believes his quarterback has the ability to bridge the gap in any talent the roster might lose because of it. It was a stormy night, she said then. But his fourth-quarter, 12-yard TD catch from Unitas gave the Colts a 21-9 lead in a game they would win 31-16. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. Richardson pulled down an 8-yard pass from Unitas for his first NFL touchdown in a 38-31 loss to Cleveland on Nov. 1, 1959. Richardson delivered an impassioned speech at the 2010 annual meetings, imploring owners to take back our league. But his hard-line tactics didnt sit well with all players, particularly after he was said to have spoken condescendingly toward Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Drew Brees during a negotiating session. "I didn't know Mr. Richardson very well at all,'' Olsen said. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? The team reached the Super Bowl in the 2003 and 2015 seasons, but lost both times. "From a personal perspective, he was a wise and caring advisor to me, his fellow owners, and many Panthers players and coaches over the years. It was truly a special experience to play a part in the culmination of his efforts to bring football to the Carolinas. They have a daughter named Ashley and a son named Mark in addition to their son Jon, who passed away in 2013. CHARLOTTE, N.C Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFLs most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. Jerry Richardson is Businessman, public benefactor, former NFL player from Spring Hope, North Carolina, United States. When Greene was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016, he mentioned Richardson and his deep love for his Panthers players in his speech. The Richardsons are both lifelong residents of North Carolina. Richardson kept a game ball from the championship game and a pair of Unitas cleats in the basement of his Charlotte home. If wed known then how long it would take, we never would have done it, Richardson said in 1995, on the eve of the Panthers first game. Richardson developed a friendship with some of his Panthers players -- some, like former wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, would approach him for business advice when their career were over. The family is planning a private funeral service. The third head coach Richardson hired was John Fox in 2002, who would last for nine years before Richardson fired him and hired Ron Rivera following the 2010 season. Richardsons mother, Mary, told The Observer in 1993 that her son was born after 17 hours of labor during a thunderstorm. "The odds against us were huge. By then, the Panthers were playing their ninth NFL season. Jerry Richardson, the founder of the American football team Carolina Panthers, has died at the age of 86 He is survived by his wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson and three children - Ashley, Jon, and Mark Nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild are also included in his family Written By: Alfeeya Mohsin Pathan Richardson was well liked by his players. ", "I will always be thankful to Mr. Richardson for providing me with the opportunity to play for the Panthers. A native son who was shaped by the region, his . After purchasing the Panthers, Tepper said he was "contractually obligated" to keep the statue of Richardson, flanked by two panthers, outside of the downtown Charlotte stadium that Richardson built. The team also became embedded in the sports culture of the Carolinas, producing stars like Cam Newton, Steve Smith and Luke Kuechly and routinely selling out 73,000-seat Bank of America Stadium. This story was originally published March 2, 2023, 3:51 PM. "I didn't pay any attention to it. Stephanie & I were saddened to learn of the passing of Jerry Richardson, Rivera said on social media. Former Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has died at age 86. The lack of consistency irritated Richardson, as Carolina failed to put together back-to-back winning seasons during his 23 seasons as owner despite hiring four coaches: Dom Capers, George Seifert, John Fox and Ron Rivera. The NFL expansion process was painstaking. "The Carolina Panthers are a testament to his extraordinary and tireless dedication to the community. Jon Richardson died of cancer in 2013. The team reached the Super Bowl in the 2003 and 2015 seasons, but lost both times. Richardsons tenure was marred by off-field issues. Carruth was imprisoned for 16 years. Richardson and Rosalind moved into an apartment close to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore with their infant son, Jon. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. We all felt his love, all felt his commitment, Greene said of Richardson. In February 2021, Richardson made a $150 million gift to Wofford, pushing his personal contributions to the school to over a quarter of a billion dollars. "Jerry Richardson's contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic," Panthers owners David and Nicole Tepper said in a statement. He overcame prostate cancer and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2002. He was 86. Foxs greatest success came in 2003, when a team with Jake Delhomme at quarterback and young stars like Steve Smith at wide receiver and Julius Peppers at defensive end made an unlikely run to the Super Bowl before losing on a last-second field goal to the New England Patriots, 32-29. Prosecutors dismissed domestic violence charges against Hardy after they said the accuser in the case couldnt be found. The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation supported the first-of-its-kind in Mecklenburg County project, which offers urgent care for behavioral health needs. Jerry Richardson, the self-made millionaire who brought the NFL to Charlotte and founded the Carolina Panthers, died Wednesday. He took the money earned from that game and started the first Hardee's franchise in Spartanburg. The statue had become controversial following the workplace misconduct scandal that served to oust Richardson from his ownership of the Panthers and complicate his legacy. Ralph Waclawicz/Call (212) 686-8900 or e-mail info@wireimage.com to license WireImage images. . Jaguars won't spend big, but here are five players they could target in free agency. Mar 02, 2023 at 01:47 PM. It was also reported he used a racial slur directed toward a team scout. One of our dear friends said, God does not give out hearts lightly, Rosalind Richardson told The Observer two weeks after the surgery.