Julius Peppers Named First Ballot Hall of Famer

Julius Peppers is no stranger to accolades. NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Four-time first-team All Pro. Three-time second-team All Pro. Nine-time Pro Bowler. NFL 2000s and 2010s All-Decades team. He's in the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor, and  his number 49 jersey was retired by the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.

Peppers can now add one more accolade to that list: First ballot Hall of Famer.

The Carolina Panthers all-time sack leader was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first try in 2024, and it is well deserved.

Peppers was drafted by the Panthers in 2002 and made an immediate impact. The former second overall pick won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2002, and was a key cog in the team's run to the Super Bowl the following year. 

Carolina honored Peppers by naming him to the team's Hall of Honor in 2023 as it's eighth member. 

The Hall of Fame class of 2024 will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio on Saturday, August 3rd following a week of activity. With Peppers' enshrinement, Carolina will be an option to play in the annual Hall of Fame Game to kick off the 2024 preseason. Carolina has not participated in the Hall of Fame Game since their inaugural season in 1995.