CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young had seen enough after several wet footballs were dropped by receivers Tuesday after a heavy rainstorm.
And he let his teammates have it, reminding them it wasn’t acceptable.
“It isn’t raining anymore!” Young could be heard shouting during organized team activities for the Panthers. “Let’s clean this up, now. It’s not raining anymore. We need better execution.”
The No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft after a standout career at Alabama that included winning the 2021 Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, Young has slowly been developing into a more vocal leader as he prepares for his fourth pro season. Tuesday offered a public insight into that growth after Young’s profanity-laced outburst.
Panthers coach Dave Canales liked what he saw.
“I heard him get a little bit passionate. We had a monsoon here for a second at practice, once the rain had passed, he was like, ‘Hey, let’s lock back in. We have to come up with these balls.’ I think he said it with a little more colorful language than that,” Canales said with a wide grin.
“But I love it. I love the fact that he’s taking ownership and the guys see that and rally around that. I think it’s something they all appreciate,” he added.
Young, who was benched early in his second season in 2024, battled back to regain the starting spot and the confidence of his teammates. Last season he went 8-8 as a starter and led the Panthers to the NFC South Division title before they lost at home to the Los Angeles Rams in a tight game in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Canales said he has seen Young take big steps in terms of his “total command” of the offensive system, which in turn has helped him become a more confident leader on the field.
“He knows what he’s looking for and the timing of things,” Canales said. “The more than he owns it, the more he is looking for specific things out of the tight ends, wideouts and backs as the concepts come alive.”
Panthers receiver Jalen Coker wasn’t all that surprised by Young’s short rant at practice, even though the quarterback often keeps his emotions in check when speaking with reporters.
Coker has spent the past two seasons in the huddle with Young and watched as he grew as a leader, saying that he’s not afraid to speak his mind.
“I think he’s a leader. He’s been a leader. We rally behind him,” Coker said. “So I think he was just challenging us because he knows what he expects of us. And we have to answer that call. The rain was adversity. But sometimes it rains on Sunday, so you have to be able to push through that.”