Bryce Young and Rico Dowdle are optimistic about the Panthers’ future following their playoff run.

Carolina Panthers’ Journey This Season

San Francisco – Not too long ago, the Carolina Panthers found themselves in a tough spot.

During Bryce Young’s rookie season, the team managed just 2 wins against 15 losses. The following year, Young increased his wins to five, but he spent quite a bit of time on the bench, leaving many questions in the air about his readiness.

This year, however, the Panthers turned things around, winning their district championship and making a surprising push in the playoffs, coming back from a double-digit deficit.

Young set personal bests with 23 touchdown passes and over 3,000 yards, but faced a challenge with 27 sacks—a career low, yet it still highlighted some of the difficulties he encountered. Still, it seems like the 2025 season might have been a step toward fulfilling the expectations that come with being the first pick overall.

“The more experience I gain, the more time I can spend with my teammates. I really rely on them, so I’m looking forward to what’s next,” Young mentioned during an interview on San Francisco’s Radio Row.

Rookie running back Rico Doodle, having stepped up after Tuba Hubbard’s injury, is adjusting well. After moving from the Dallas Cowboys, he had moments of uncertainty about whether he’d made the right decision. But now, he seems to reflect positively on the season.

“It’s always enjoyable to do what you love. While we didn’t quite hit our ultimate goal, it was a solid year all around—not without its highs and lows, though. This definitely feels like a starting point for us in Carolina,” Doodle expressed.

Last month, during the wild-card round, the Panthers held a leading score of 31-27 against the Los Angeles Rams at halftime. However, the Rams managed to score with just 38 seconds remaining, which ended the Panthers’ surprising playoff run.