This story was originally published March 2, 2023, 3:51 PM. The Spring Hope, North Carolina, native spent years trying to persuade the NFL to put a team in the Carolinas, ultimately succeeding through a relatively original concept of funding a new stadium through the sales of permanent seat licenses. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Richardson built a food empire from scratch, starting the Hardees hamburger chain with $4,864 in 1961 with playoff bonus money he earned for playing on the Baltimore Colts 1959 NFL championship team. On game days, he'd ride around Bank of America Stadium in his golf cart, greeting fans and taking pictures, relishing the moments. Richardson had 241 yards receiving in a game against Newberry in 1956, and he was named an Associated Press Little All-American in 57 and 58. Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is a former NFL player who turned a $4744 championship bonus into a billion dollar fast food fortune. Jerry Richardson family: Who are wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson and children Ashley, Jon and Mark? Richardson beat long odds to earn the right to land a franchise. Sources have told The Observer it will never return to the stadium. 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. 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. He made millions in the business world in the food business, but it was football that made him happy. We wish them much peace and comfort.". That never deterred me. Richardsons legacy was forever changed when Sports Illustrated magazine published an investigative report just minutes before kickoff on a Sunday the Panthers were hosting the Green Bay Packers Dec. 17, 2017. They would later marry and have three children. "As a former player himself, Jerry cared deeply about the welfare of players and the labor agreements he helped negotiate have led to improved pay and benefits for generations of players. 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 He served on some of the league's most prestigious committees and had become one of the more powerful owners. Ralph Waclawicz/Call (212) 686-8900 or e-mail info@wireimage.com to license WireImage images. Former Pro Bowl linebacker Thomas Davis, who played for Carolina from 2005 to 2018, summed up what many players thought of Richardson with this post on Instagram. The financing plan got an enormous boost, however, due to the permanent-seat license (PSL) concept created by public relations guru Muhleman (who had also helped birth the Hornets). Mr. Richardson is a native Carolinian, whose dream was to bring NFL football and the world championship he knew as a player in the . Former Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has died at age 86. On Thursday afternoon, the Carolina Panthers announced the passing of team founder and former owner Jerry Richardson. But the workplace misconduct scandal changed that timetable, and Richardson spent the last five years of his life without owning the team that had defined a large part of his business career. 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.". That concept contributed more than $100 million to the stadiums eventual cost of around $187 million. It revealed that Richardsons assistant would escort female employees to Richardsons office and then leave. Category: Richest Business. He sold the team to Tepper, a hedge fund owner, in May 2018 for a then-NFL record $2.27 billion. Scoring in a world championship game is about the ultimate as far as a player is concerned.. Richardson was insistent on his stadium being financed privately. . 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. His mother worked as a sales clerk at a womens dress shop. The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation supported the first-of-its-kind in Mecklenburg County project, which offers urgent care for behavioral health needs. CHARLOTTE, N.C (AP) 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 . I said, Yes sir, it did. He said, thats a good thing everything will be OK. And then he hung up the phone.. This website uses cookies and similar technologies to ensure you get the best experience, including personalised content. For me to try to explain to you guys what this man has meant to me and my family and so many others would take a lifetime," Davis posted. He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. He used his championship bonus money to open the first Hardees in Spartanburg, South Carolina close to where he had attended Wofford College. Muhleman noted the drive that Richardson exhibited in his relentless pursuit of making Carolina the NFLs 29th franchise. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! ", "Jerry Richardson gave me my first opportunity to be a head coach, and I'll always be thankful for that. Can the Lions fix their defense? 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. They have three children. The Panthers decided to charge for the right to buy season tickets in their proposed new stadium a radical idea that later helped build many other stadiums around the country. 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. I was told I couldn't get my company on the New York Stock Exchange before I was 40. 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. He and Bradshaw Richardsons former quarterback at Wofford opened their first Hardees restaurant in 1961 in Spartanburg. Jon Richardson died of cancer in 2013. Giants co-owner John Mara once told Richardson during the intense labor talks, according to the MMQB website: I dont know whose heart you got, but that had to be a tough son of a bitch.. That would serve as the seed money for a hugely successful fast-food franchise that would lead to Richardson bringing an NFL franchise to the Carolinas. Stephanie & I were saddened to learn of the passing of Jerry Richardson, Rivera said on social media. But I was a player on his team who needed help and he was able to provide it. He was 86. Jerry Richardsons contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic. But Richardsons reputation took a tremendous hit when he announced he was selling the Panthers on Dec. 17, 2017, the same day Sports Illustrated reported that four former Panthers employees received significant monetary settlements due to inappropriate sexually suggestive language and actions by Richardson. "On the NFL's behalf, I extend our sincere condolences to Jerry's wife, Rosalind, and their family.". Tepper has said several times in interviews that the business side of the Panthers organization was in disarray when he bought the team in 2018. It was a very stressful time.. Richardson is survived by his wife, Rosalind, son Mark and daughter Ashley Richardson Allen. Personal Life: Affair, Girlfriends, Wife, Kids. He still holds the school's single-game record for receiving yards (241 against Newberry in 1956), as well as records for touchdown receptions in a season (9) and career (21). In 2000, wide receiver Rae Carruth, the teams first-round draft pick in 1997, was convicted on a murder conspiracy charge in connection with the drive-by shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend. His survivors include his wife Rosalind and two of their three children Mark and Ashley. A lot of times people get to some level and they dont like to take a risk, he said. Jansen Panettieres cause of death revealed by Hayden Panettiere and his family, Kris Jordan: Cause of death, age, ex-wife Melissa Jordan, children, net worth and more, Where to buy Atlanta Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson's Christmas cleats. 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. After a bad first half, Richardson caught several passes in the second half from Johnny Unitas and made the team. Richardson survived a series of serious health-related issues in his later years. Jerry Richardson Wife, Children Richardson's marital status was married. 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. With the news also came a statement from current owner David Tepper and wife . The Carolina Panthers founder and former owner died on March 1, 2023. "The point of the story is not so much about T.J. and our family, as much as it was the love of the man, and the love he had for a player he didn't owe a lot to. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! He believed in me when no one else did. 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. There, he began creating the emphasis on customer service that would carry over into his stewardship of his football team. Jon, Mark, and Ashley Richardson Allen are her three children. We got love from a man that was my employer, my boss, not a close personal friend at the time, Olsen said. We all felt his love, all felt his commitment, Greene said of Richardson. "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. As with other captains of industry, Richardson's name adorns a number of buildings throughout the two states, but few places carry it as proudly as his alma mater. 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. Heather ODonnell of the Chicago social services agency Thresholds says the money is an opportunity to really build up substance use care.. The Spring Hope, North Carolina, native spent years trying to persuade the NFL to put a team in the Carolinas, ultimately succeeding through a relatively original concept of funding a new stadium through the sales of permanent seat licenses. "The Carolina Panthers are a testament to his extraordinary and tireless dedication to the community. He gave me a chance when no one else would! Three months later, running back Fred Lane, who had just been traded to Indianapolis, was shot and killed by his wife in their Charlotte home. He provided tremendous guidance to me, and to this day, Karen and I consider him and Rosalind true friends. Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. 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. Unitas took a personal interest in Richardson, picking up the young receiver every morning on his way to practice and bringing him home at the end of the day. On Thursday afternoon, the Carolina Panthers announced the passing of team founder and former owner Jerry Richardson. But his work was hailed in league circles as a member of the league's stadium committee, and one of commissioner Roger Goodell's close circle of trusted voices. He and his wife have two sons, Mark and Jon. 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. "Jerry Richardson's contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic," current Panthers owner David Tepper and his wife Nicole said in a statement. Richardsons bid for an NFL team had to at first beat out a competing bid for a Charlotte team from Shinn. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Richardson is survived by his wife, Rosalind, son Mark and daughter Ashley Richardson Allen. In 1987, Richardson heard on the radio that businessman George Shinn had won his bid to bring an NBA franchise to Charlotte. But Richardson also showed compassion for his players. All about former Carolina Panthers owners, net worth, statue, scandals and more. Richardson died. 1 pick, Jalen Carter arrest throws Bears a hittable curve, NFL Combine notes: Illini CB Witherspoon the complete package, Trade down? All the other competitors at the time St. Louis, Baltimore, Jacksonville and Memphis had in place a rent-free stadium to be paid for by public funds. Richardson became the first former NFL player to own a team since Chicago's George Halas when he landed the expansion Panthers in 1993. The scholarship was meant to honor his wife and her commitment to the arts. Lawmakers and others should not seek to undo laws meant to protect people from gun violence. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. The Richardsons are both lifelong residents of North Carolina. He also had a policy where fans weren't allowed to remove their shirts during games. He played football at Fayetteville High 6-3, 150-pound receiver known as Stick for his slender frame who won the teams Competitor Trophy. 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? After the Baltimore Colts drafted Richardson in the 13th round, he showed up for training camp in 1959 as one of 19 receivers fighting for three spots on the 36-man roster. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? He loved the NFL so much that he kept the leagues logo a shield painted on the 50-yard line at Bank of America Stadium, rather than a team logo like nearly every other team in the league. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our. The promise came close to coming true during the 2003 season. His father was a barber. Funeral services will be private. Richardson was hospitalized in the year 2008 in Carolinas Medical Center. While fans saw a stoic Richardson sitting expressionless in his end-zone suite at Bank of America Stadium on Sundays, he was not afraid to cut up with his players. But in June 2020, the Panthers removed the statue, saying they were concerned there may be attempts to take the statue down due to protests and unrest following the death of George Floyd. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. About the time he came into this world, thunder burst and lightning flashed. Following his heart transplant, Richardson remained active in league business. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! He was 86. Rosalind Sallenger Richardson. With an emphasis on need-based monetary scholarships and opportunities for Wofford students, this contribution is intended for the colleges endowment. As a football fan, he has naming rights to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's football field. Richardson then accompanied the Olsens to Boston for a medical consultation. That kind of attention to detail was not unlike his days as owner of the Panthers, in which he'd approve particulars of landscaping plans (native plants from each state on the north and south sides of the stadium to represent the two Carolinas) and the paint job on the field. '', We are saddened to hear about the passing of 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. Being a part of the inaugural season is something that I will never forget. 32 NFL players who could change teams this offseason, Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, amid allegations of sexual and racial workplace misconduct, More than 25 years experience covering NFL, college football and NASCAR. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. "The odds against us were huge. CHARLOTTE, N.C 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 . He owned the franchise from its inception in 1995 until 2018 when he sold it to David and Nicole Tepper. During its very 1st season, he triumphed over the NFL Super Bowl. After growing up in the Fayetteville area, Richardson went to Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C.; where he excelled in football and laid the groundwork for a business empire that would allow him to return to the game he once walked away from. Richardson had a unique style of dealing with players, but generally was well-liked by those who played and coached under him. Jerry Richardson, a former NFL owner, is survived by his wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson. Jerry Richardson's age is 86 years old as of today's date 15th February 2023 having been born on 18 July 1936. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. The sale of the Panthers for a reported $2.275 billion followed the scandal that was uncovered by Sports Illustrated magazine in December 2017. With the Colts, he roomed with quarterback Johnny Unitas, and caught a touchdown pass from the Hall of Famer in the 1959 NFL Championship Game. Jerome Johnson Richardson Sr. (July 18, 1936 - March 1, 2023) was an American businessman, football player, and owner in the National Football League (NFL). (AP Photo/Brandon Wade), Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, right, introduces the team's new coach, Ron Rivera, left, during a news conference in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011. "I didn't know Mr. Richardson very well at all,'' Olsen said. It was also reported he used a racial slur directed toward a team scout. I've been told a lot of things.". 1 overall in 2011 for fear it would impact his image. Carolina began play in 1995 and Richardson quickly built the Panthers into one of the league's model franchises, while becoming a powerful figure in the NFL. Fitterer and head coach Frank Reich also touched on other needs the team has, and what the priorities are for the coming weeks during their interviews at the combine. 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. Also Read: Who was Jerry Richardson? RIP Mr. Richardson pic.twitter.com/o27b6O5Czt. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. They played miniature golf in Myrtle Beach on their first date. That concept was iffy enough that well-known oddsmaker Danny Sheridan gave Charlotte 50-1 odds of getting an NFL team in 1989. The following month the NFL fined Richardson $2.75 million for alleged workplace misconduct. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. 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. (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. It was a miracle. A year after Carolina was awarded a franchise, in 1994, Richardson spoke to The Observer about what it was like to be an NFL owner. Richardson remained confident throughout the process, getting a license plate that read PNTHERS in 1989 four years before his ownership group would actually be awarded a team. Richardson would set several Wofford receiving records on his way to a career that led the school to retire his football number. He married Rosalind Sallenger Richardson. Richardson was celebrated for bringing the NFL to Carolina in 1995, but his tenure with the team ended after the 2017 season amid allegations of sexual and racial workplace misconduct. The team reached the Super Bowl in the 2003 and 2015 seasons, but lost both times. When he owned the team, Richardson would often refer back to the lessons learned selling hamburgers. Too brutal.. . Given that two of the receivers were established stars and future Hall of Famers Raymond Berry and Lenny Moore, Richardson did not like his chances. Ive always told him he came into the world with a streak of lightning.. ''I'm literally at a loss of words. Wofford offered Richardson a partial scholarship worth less than $300, and he took it. But as he stepped back from some of his day-to-day work with the team, his influence within the NFL remained large. 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. He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1959 and caught a touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas in the 1959 NFL Championship Game. Although Richardson once promised the Panthers would win a Super Bowl within 10 years of beginning play in 1995, they never did. He began the Carolina Panthers franchise, which he owned from 1995 to 2018. Jansen Panettieres cause of death revealed by Hayden Panettiere and his family. The Panthers were the first team to employ the concept, and the influx of cash was crucial to privately financing what was then known as Carolinas Stadium. "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. Career Richardson stepped into NFL draft in 1959 and got selected in the thirteenth round by the supremacy victors the Baltimore Colts. The concept was simple cheap hamburgers, served to the masses and wildly successful. Fowler has earned 20 national APSE writing awards and hosted The Observers podcast Carruth, which Sports Illustrated named 2018s Podcast of the Year. His new podcast and online series is called Sports Legends of the Carolinas and features 1-on-1 interviews with NC and SC sports icons. Richardson didnt play much for Baltimore. The family is planning a private funeral service. The Spring Hope, North Carolina, native spent years trying to persuade the NFL to put a team in the Carolinas, ultimately succeeding through a relatively original concept of funding a new stadium through the sales of permanent seat licenses. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton). 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. Jerome J. Richardson was born July 18, 1936, in Spring Hope, N.C., the first step in a journey that would transform the Carolinas. One former female employee recalled Richardson arriving barefoot and asking for a foot massage.. I dont know whether youd call it stubbornness or not, Richardson later told the Observer. Mr. Richardson claims that Wofford has had the biggest impact on his achievement in life, with no other influence coming close. "Condolences to Rosalind, Ashley, & Mark and the Richardson family.''. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 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. I will always remember him, as will millions in his beloved Carolinas, as the father of NFL football in these sister states, said Max Muhleman, a public-relations specialist who worked closely with Richardson for years. Here you will get Jerry Richardson's net worth, weight, height net worth, girlfriend, educational qualification and complete bio. He was 86.. CHARLOTTE, N.C -- 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. And during Richardson's tenure as owner he always made sure the NFL logo instead of his team's was at midfield of Bank of America Stadium. His other. Sign up for the Panthers Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. The NFL expansion process was painstaking. 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. The NFL fined Richardson a league-record $2.75 million after its probe concluded, nearly tripling the amount of its previous record fine of $1 million. He was 86.. Early life and college [ edit] Richardson was born in Spring Hope, North Carolina. His survivors include his wife Rosalind and two of their three children Mark and Ashley. Pictures of Richardson holding babies or showing up at pre-game tailgates made their rounds on social media before most games. 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. The Richardsons have a total of nine grandchildren. Jerry Richardson's Wife, Marriage & Relationship Richardson is married to Rosalind Sallenger Richardson. Photos of Jerry Richardson throughout his time with the Panthers. It was expected at the time one of the boys might inherit the team, but that never happened. A family spokesman said Thursday that Richardson died peacefully last night at his Charlotte home.. Jerry Richardson and wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson established a $500,000 fully endowed scholarship to Winthrop. 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. After he had a heart transplant in Charlotte in 2009, Richardson lived for 14 more years. He enlisted sports marketing executive Max Muhleman, and they put in place the first permanent seat license concept, in which fans paid an up-front fee for access to season tickets. John Fox, who coached the Panthers from 2002 to 2010 and led them to the Super Bowl in 2003, told ESPN on Thursday that he and his family are "thankful'' for the opportunity Richardson gave them. 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. 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. 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. https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/02/panthers-owner-david-tepper-jerry-richardson/, Report: Panthers free agent RB D'Onta Foreman expected to be 'hot commodity', Panthers legend Steve Smith Sr. officially opens mental health facility, Panthers OC Thomas Brown receives praise from 2023 NFL draft prospect, Will Levis: Breaking down film with Frank Reich, Panthers was fun, Panthers great Cam Newton honors late Jerry Richardson, Report: Panthers will not use franchise tag this offseason, Former Panthers react to passing of team founder Jerry Richardson, Report: Panthers inquire about trade for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, Biggest takeaways from the Panthers' combine media availability, 1 player Panthers fans should watch for each day of the combine, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Richardsons catch came in the horseshoe end of Memorial Stadium, where the rowdier Colts fans congregated. During the year in which Richardson waited for and later recovered from his heart transplants, his two sons led the organization. It has never returned. It was widely assumed Richardson would hold onto the team until his death. Please check your email for a confirmation. 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. 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. Then, in his rolling Southern. The stadium was named "Jerry Richardson Stadium" after his donation of $10 Million. Richardsons legacy also includes the birth of the Panthers and the development of a restaurant empire that made him a rich enough man to join one of Americas most exclusive clubs the leagues 32 NFL owners.
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