The Countdown Begins
The clock is ticking down to the 2026 season opener with exactly 44 days remaining. Fans across the Carolinas are counting the days just like they’ve done for a decade. The local fan site Cat Scratch Reader has kicked off a fresh tradition for this year’s final stretch. They aren’t matching jersey numbers to the days left anymore. Instead, the site compiled its own list ranking the Top 100 Panthers of all time. This roster ignores jersey numbers and even includes players who never wore a uniform. The goal is to honor the best without stirring up any controversy. Today marks the spot for number 44 on this historic list.
That spot belongs to running back Stephen Davis. He’s one of the most celebrated players in team history. According to Cat Scratch Reader, Davis is the first Carolina running back to start in a Super Bowl. His arrival coincided perfectly with the team’s most dramatic playoff run. The timing made his single great season feel like a career-defining moment for the franchise.
A Record-Breaking Arrival
Davis entered the league as a fourth-round pick by Washington. He spent his first three years playing fullback or backing up other runners. The chance to lead the backfield finally came in 1999. He took that role and ran with it, literally. That year he gained more than 1,400 yards and netted a league high 17 touchdowns. He followed that performance with two more stellar seasons before injuries derailed his 2002 campaign.
Davis joined the Panthers following the 2002 season to assume the starting position. He joined a team where DeShaun Foster was recovering from a season-ending injury. Davis rediscovered his old magic on the field. He finished with 1,444 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. This production helped the team make an improbable run to the Super Bowl. The numbers prove he was the engine behind that historic charge.
The Cost of Glory
The playoff run saw Davis rush for a massive 315 yards. However, he only gained 49 yards in the Super Bowl itself. The game got wildly out of control and the team had to pass the ball more. Unfortunately, Davis became a one-hit wonder for the Panthers after that peak. His second season with the team saw injuries leave him playing only two games. He struggled to bounce back for his third year in Charlotte.
He started giving up work to Foster as he limped through his final season.
Davis finished with just 3.1 yards per carry in that last year. He spent one final season with the Rams before hanging up his cleats. When that time came, he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Panther. His one standout season feels like more than just a flash in the pan. It was central to the Cardiac Cats’ dream run. That single year earns him the number 44 spot on the all-time list. With 44 days left, the memories of that run are fresh again.
