It must be Julius Peppers Week!
On the same day he was officially named to the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor, the former defensive end was listed as one of two (retired) franchise greats to be a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 33rd Team—with the help of voters and contributors Vic Carucci, Paul Domowitch, Clark Judge and Barry Wilner—provided the following about Pep:
Two-time All-Decade Team member Julius Peppers (2000s and 2010s) is the leading newcomer candidate for next year. His credentials, even while not winning a ring, are as impressive as any pass-rushing master can provide: 159.5 sacks, 52 forced fumbles, 21 recoveries, 82 passes defensed and 719 total tackles.
A three-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler who broke in as the Defensive Rookie of the Year for 2002, Peppers was as feared as any defender for much of his 17 NFL seasons.
“A dominant physical freak who combined pass-rush moves with remarkable power and athleticism,” Carucci said.
Those 159.5 sacks sit fourth all-time, with 97.0 of them coming in Carolina. His decade’s worth of dominance for the Panthers, and seven more with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, will probably have Peppers—who is eligible for Canton in 2024—visiting both the Hall of Honor and the Hall of Fame in a matter of a year.
Joining the Tar Heel State legend on the “locks” list is a fellow defender and former teammate, linebacker Luke Kuechly.
Kuechly walked away from the game after eight seasons and a string of concussions. He made the most of those seasons, going to the Pro Bowl seven times and being a first-team All-Pro five times as well as an All-Decade selection.
“If he had played another three to four years, he’d be a first-year-of-eligibility guy,” Domowitch said. “Might still be, but he shouldn’t have to wait very long. Kuechly was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in just his second season. He was a smart, instinctive, difference-making player.’’
The ninth overall pick of the 2012 draft made an impact right away for the Panthers. From his Defensive Rookie of the Year award to that Defensive Player of the Year honor and those myriad of all-star selections, Kuechly was one of the most integral pieces to what was perhaps the greatest run in franchise history.
Oh, and we’ll be seeing him in the Hall of Honor in due time as well.
