Here at Cat Scratch Reader we have counted down the final 100 days leading up to the Carolina Panthers season opener for at least the past ten years. We’ve always done this by highlighting the current player on the roster whose jersey number matches the day on the countdown. This year, we decided to change that up a bit by counting down our own list of the Top 100 Panthers of all time. This does not correspond to jersey number, does not need to be somebody who wore a jersey, and will in no way be controversial.
#27. Steve Beuerlein
Panthers stats: 59 games, 12,690 passing yards, 86 TDs, 50 INT, 60.4% completions, 1X Pro Bowl
Career stats: 147 games, 24,046 passing yards, 147 TDs, 112 INT, 56.9% completions, 1X Pro Bowl
Quarterback Steve Beuerlein played five solid seasons for the Panthers from 1996, Carolina’s second season as a new franchise, through 2000.
The Panthers entered the NFL as a brand new franchise back in 1995 and surprised many by going a respectable 7-9 in their debut season behind rookie quarterback Kerry Collins. As the Panthers entered their 1996 season they wisely decided to invest in a veteran signal caller behind Collins, and they rode with Steve Beuerlein.
Before joining the Panthers as a 31-year-old journeyman, Beuerlein began his professional career in 1987 as a fourth round pick by the Raiders. He spent two seasons there as a spot starter then began what would become a nomadic life in the NFL. After the Raiders he played two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, seeing the field only sparingly. The next two seasons were spent with the Cardinals where he was the team’s starting quarterback in 1993, throwing for 3,164 yards with 18 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He then spent 1995 as a spot starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars in his age-30 season.
When the Panthers came calling in 1996, it looked like yet another backup job for the former Notre Dame star. After all, Kerry Collins, the No. 5 pick in the 1995 draft, was the team’s young franchise quarterback. Unless Collins got hurt or ran into problems off the field, Beuerlein would mostly be holding a clipboard in Charlotte.
And, yes, Collins would deal with both injuries and off-the-field issues, which opened the door for the veteran Beuerlein to regularly see the field for the Panthers.
In 1996 Beuerlein appeared in eight games with four starts for a 12-4 Panthers squad that lost in the conference championship game, throwing for 879 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
In 1997 he was once again called upon to fill in for Collins. Beuerlein appeared in seven games, starting three, with 1,032 yards, six touchdowns, and three picks.
By 1998 the Panthers were ready to move on from Kerry Collins after he benched himself with the team’s 0-4 start and turned the reins over to a now 33-year-old Steve Beuerlein. He started all 12 games in which he appeared with a 4-8 quarterback record, but he threw for 2,613 yards with 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. That year his 63.0% completion percentage led the NFL.
In 1999 everything came together for the 34-year-old journeyman. He led the Panthers to an 8-8 record and his 4,436 passing yards led the NFL. His 36 passing touchdowns ranked second in the NFL and he also finished second in passer rating. In 1999 he earned his first and only Pro Bowl nod.
In 2000 he once again started all 16 games for the Panthers, but took a step back statistically. Carolina went 7-9. His 3,730 passing yards dipped more than 700 yards from his Pro Bowl season. His touchdowns plummeted from 36 to 19 while his interceptions rose from 15 t0 18.
Carolina released Beuerlein before their disastrous 1-15 2001 campaign.
Beuerlein continued his career post-Panthers by playing sparingly for the Broncos in 2002 and 2003 before calling it a career.
Steve Beuerlein is deserving of such a lofty position on our Top 100 countdown because of what he did for the Panthers. He offered a veteran’s stability, maturity, and excellence as Kerry Collins dealt with his health and personal issues. The Panthers 1998 season was tumultuous with Collins, as some have said, “quitting” on his team four games into the season. Fortunately, the Panthers had Steve Beuerlein to fill the void. He helped the Panthers keep their heads above water and play at least competent football. Individually, once thrust into the starting role he put together back-t0-back seasons as one of the most consistent, efficient quarterbacks in the league.
He deserved his 1999 Pro Bowl honors, just as he deserves the No. 27 spot on our Top 100 list.