He used his championship bonus money to open the first Hardees in Spartanburg, South Carolina close to where he had attended Wofford College. The Carolina Panthers defeated the New York Giants 23 to 0. A former teammate of Johnny Unitas who caught a touchdown pass in the Baltimore Colts victory over the New York Giants in the 1959 NFL championship game, Richardson only spent two years in the NFL before venturing into the restaurant business. . "The Carolina Panthers are a testament to his extraordinary and tireless dedication to the community. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. We wouldnt go into this if I didnt think we could do it, Richardson said at a Charlotte news conference on Dec. 15, 1987, when he officially announced his bid for an NFL expansion franchise. The Richardsonslived in North Carolina their entire lives. CHARLOTTE, N.C -- Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers founder and for years one of the NFLs most influential owners until a scandal forced him to sell the team, has died. The founder and former owner of the Panthers passed away on Wednesday night. Together they have three children and their names are Ashley Richardson Allen, Mark, and Jon. . He did so with lots of help, including the necessary financial backing from close friend and Charlotte mega-banker Hugh McColl Jr. Richardsons son Mark was also instrumental in the effort. Richardson was born in Spring Hope, North Carolina, in 1936. Career Richardson stepped into NFL draft in 1959 and got selected in the thirteenth round by the supremacy victors the Baltimore Colts. He was 86.. With an emphasis on need-based monetary scholarships and opportunities for Wofford students, this contribution is intended for the colleges endowment. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Too grueling. 1 overall in 2011 for fear it would impact his image. "I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons," Rivera posted. . He was fined $2.75 million by the NFL after an extensive investigation into the allegations following a story by Sports Illustrated in which four former employees anonymously stated they reached a financial settlement with Richardson in exchange for silence. The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation supported the first-of-its-kind in Mecklenburg County project, which offers urgent care for behavioral health needs. After purchasing the Panthers, Tepper said he was contractually obligated to keep the statue of Richardson, flanked by two panthers, outside of the downtown Charlotte stadium that Richardson built. But his league-first attitude as seen through his leadership of numerous NFL committees helped pave the way for a series of public-private stadium partnerships throughout the country, and collective bargaining agreements that continue to support the growth of the game. All about former Carolina Panthers owners, net worth, statue, scandals and more. The following month the NFL fined Richardson $2.75 million for alleged workplace misconduct. The Carolina Panthers are a testament to his extraordinary and tireless dedication to the community.But his league-first attitude as seen through his leadership of numerous NFL committees, including the Stadium Committee and Management Council Executive Committee, helped pave the way for a series of public-private stadium partnerships throughout the country, and collective bargaining agreements that continue to support the growth of the game.As a former player himself, Jerry cared deeply about the welfare of players and the labor agreements he helped negotiate have led to improved pay and benefits for generations of players.From a personal perspective, he was a wise and caring advisor to me, his fellow owners, and many Panthers players and coaches over the years. The plan to finance the stadium largely with his own money was the part that carried the biggest risk, but Richardson told The Observer in 1987 that would be part of the fun. It was a stormy night, she said then. The team said that "moving the statue is in the interest of public safety." . He was 86. The Richardsons have a total of nine grandchildren. Richardson built a food empire from scratch, starting the Hardees hamburger chain with $4,864 in 1961 with playoff bonus money he earned for playing on the Baltimore Colts 1959 NFL championship team. A PSL would cost anywhere from $600 to $5400 per ticket and could later be re-sold or handed down in the right-holders will. That concept contributed more than $100 million to the stadiums eventual cost of around $187 million. "He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful. See video, posts and updates straight from Indianapolis as Panthers leaders speak to the media. He began to slow down as he entered his mid-60s, battling heart issues. Richardson never addressed the allegations against him publicly. The statue now resides in an undisclosed storage facility. He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1959 and caught a touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas in the 1959 NFL Championship Game. Pictures of Richardson holding babies or showing up at pre-game tailgates made their rounds on social media before most games. Following his heart transplant, Richardson remained active in league business. I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons. Carruth was imprisoned for 16 years. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton). He sold the team to Tepper, a hedge fund owner, in May 2018 for a then-NFL record $2.27 billion. Jon Richardson died of cancer in 2013. Jerry Richardson family: Who are wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson and children Ashley, Jon and Mark? He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful.. RIP Mr. Richardson pic.twitter.com/o27b6O5Czt. Net Worth: $2 Billion. He fired a number of Richardson-era employees after his purchase and also quickly changed the 50-yard line symbol to the Panthers logo. I dont know whether youd call it stubbornness or not, Richardson later told the Observer. We wish them much peace and comfort.". Nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild are also included in their family. "Condolences to Rosalind, Ashley, & Mark and the Richardson family.''. He played football at Fayetteville High 6-3, 150-pound receiver known as Stick for his slender frame who won the teams Competitor Trophy. He used his championship bonus money to open the first Hardee's in Spartanburg, South Carolina close to where he had attended Wofford College. The team went for a then NFL record $2.275 billion. The following month the NFL fined Richardson $2.75 million for alleged workplace misconduct. As the team's owner, Jerry Richardson, made his rounds on the way to his spacious office, he would ask women to turn around so he could admire their backsides. Jerome J. Richardson was born July 18, 1936, in Spring Hope, N.C., the first step in a journey that would transform the Carolinas. Richardson served on several high-level owners committees, playing a key role in labor negotiations with the players union. "With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave the NFL fans here a team to call their own. Jon, Mark, and Ashley Richardson Allen are her three children. Please check your email for a confirmation. With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave the NFL fans here a team to call their own.". Deeply rooted in both Carolinas and once a wide receiver for the Baltimore Colts, Richardson persuaded the NFL to put an expansion team in Charlotte in 1993. I was told I couldn't get my company on the New York Stock Exchange before I was 40. He has authored or co-authored eight books, including four about the Carolina Panthers. On game days, he'd ride around Bank of America Stadium in his golf cart, greeting fans and taking pictures, relishing the moments. The Panthers were impressed with the Alabama quarterback after meeting him this week, and they've acknowledged the possibility of trading up to get in position for him. Chad Reuter provides a stock report from Indianapolis. Richardson developed a friendship with some of his Panthers players -- some, like former wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, would approach him for business advice when their career were over. Also Read: Who was Jerry Richardson? He went on to make his fortune in the restaurant business, becoming chief executive officer of Flagstar, the sixth-largest food service company in the country at the time. Jerry Richardson got his heart transplanted in the year 2009. A new home for Michael Thomas? Richardsons playing career lasted only two seasons when he walked away from the game at 25 following a dispute over $250. Richardson never addressed the allegations against him publicly. That allegiance to the league and his status within it also made him one of the lead voices for owners in the 2010 labor negotiations, in which he famously and sometimes profanely clashed with players across the table including Peyton Manning. Richardson didnt play much for Baltimore. Nicole and I extend our deepest condolences to Rosalind, the entire Richardson family, and their loved ones. Jerry Richardson's Wife, Marriage & Relationship Richardson is married to Rosalind Sallenger Richardson. We wish them much peace and comfort.". Carruth was imprisoned for 16 years. A lot of times people get to some level and they dont like to take a risk, he said. Sign up for the Panthers Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Richardson became the first former NFL player to own a team since Chicagos George Halas when he landed the expansion Panthers in 1993. I sweated it out every day. They would later marry and have three children. He was a loyal member of the league, and painted "The Shield" logo at the 50-yard-line of his home field throughout his tenure as owner. The report alleged that Richardson had committed numerous instances of workplace misconduct, including sexual harassment, uttering a racial slur and asking some of his female employees if he could personally shave their legs., The report, which was substantiated by the NFLs ensuing probe, revealed that at least four former Panthers employees had received significant financial settlements from Richardson following his inappropriate behavior in exchange for what amounted to a vow of silence. It also noted that Fridays were Jeans Day at the Panthers offices, and that became fodder for many inappropriate comments by Richardson. Then, in his rolling Southern. Richardson was hospitalized in the year 2008 in Carolinas Medical Center. Sister-in-law never calls her late husbands sister and is dismissive of her grief. Richardsons bid for an NFL team had to at first beat out a competing bid for a Charlotte team from Shinn. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade), Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, right, introduces the team's new coach, Ron Rivera, left, during a news conference in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011. Conservative by nature, Richardson once cautioned Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton against getting tattoos and piercings after drafting the quarterback No. Jerry Richardson's age is 86 years old as of today's date 15th February 2023 having been born on 18 July 1936. Richardson said in 2018 his greatest mission in life was bringing the NFL to the Carolinas. The statue had become controversial following the workplace misconduct scandal that served to oust Richardson from his ownership of the Panthers and complicate his legacy. "I was able to become the player that I became because of him, because he encouraged and motivated me to Keep Pounding. Quarterback Jake Delhomme, who led the Panthers to their first Super Bowl in the 2003 season, recalls getting a phone call from Richardson a couple of days after enduring he endured a disastrous four-turnover performance in a 33-13 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the 2008 playoffs. Jerry Richardson, the former Carolina Panthers owner who sold the team amid accusations of workplace misconduct, and his wife Rosalind have donated $5 million to Charleston's International . Lets just say I wasnt bursting with optimism, Richardson told The Observer in a 1995 story. Who was Jerry Richardson? He was 86. He was my boss. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. "I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to coach the Carolina Panthers & for his patient, steadfast leadership during 7 seasons," Rivera said on social media. Richardson packed up, left the Colts training camp and pointed his Oldsmobile station wagon toward the Carolinas. Richardson then accompanied the Olsens to Boston for a medical consultation. They have three children. Richardson, who was born July 18, 1936. Richardson kept a game ball from the championship game and a pair of Unitas cleats in the basement of his Charlotte home. The magazines investigation portrayed Richardson as an owner who acted inappropriately with a number of his female employees and also directed a racial slur at an African-American scout employed by the Panthers. He served on some of the league's most prestigious committees and had become one of the more powerful owners. He also had a policy where fans weren't allowed to remove their shirts during games. All about former Carolina Panthers owners, net worth, statue, scandals and more, What is enlarged heart? ", "I will always be thankful to Mr. Richardson for providing me with the opportunity to play for the Panthers. Richardson pulled down an 8-yard pass from Unitas for his first NFL touchdown in a 38-31 loss to Cleveland on Nov. 1, 1959. The former president of the Panthers stadium was their son Jon Richardson. Jon Richardson died of cancer in 2013. Unitas took a personal interest in Richardson, picking up the young receiver every morning on his way to practice and bringing him home at the end of the day. But Richardson also showed compassion for his players. He made millions in the business world in the food business, but it was football that made him happy. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson waves to the Panthers fans during warmups prior to their playoff game against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on January 08, 2006. A native son who was shaped by the region, his personal journey culminated with bringing professional football to the Carolinas, leaving an indelible mark on the area he loved. Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is "fired up" to work with Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. pic.twitter.com/9Cjn0PSYW2. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. He made his private plane available to tight end Greg Olsen before Olsens wife delivered a son who was born with a congenital heart defect. He and Bradshaw Richardsons former quarterback at Wofford opened their first Hardees restaurant in 1961 in Spartanburg. Jerome Johnson Richardson Sr. (July 18, 1936 - March 1, 2023) was an American businessman, football player, and owner in the National Football League (NFL). The team called the statue a public safety hazard at the time, citing the nightly social justice marches then occurring in Charlotte. An explanation of winter vs nesting robins locally, winter aconite in snow, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and ice shacks being down on Lake Winnebago are among the notes from around Chicago outdoors. "His generosity will benefit future generations," Wofford athletics director Richard Johnson said. Charlotte had already become a professional sports town with the arrival of the NBA's Hornets in 1988, but those were the days when the city struggled to build an identity as anything other than a regional outpost, still confused with Charleston, S.C. or Charlottesville, Va., and years from becoming a national banking center. Here you will get Jerry Richardson's net worth, weight, height net worth, girlfriend, educational qualification and complete bio. At Wofford, Richardson majored in psychology, worked as a dormitory hall manager and joined the ROTC. Theres nothing Id rather do with my time than be supportive of the Carolina Panthers.. Richardson called Archie Manning, Peytons father, to clear the air and believed the situation was overblown. No cause was given for Richardson's death. Within hours of the report, Richardson announced his decision to sell the team. Jerry Richardsons contributions to professional football in the Carolinas are historic, current Panthers owner David Tepper and his wife Nicole said in a statement. Rajeeta Kochhar? It didnt go well for Hornets, Galen Youngs family upset after the woman who caused his death gets no prison time, At age 72, Dom Capers looks back and forward as he rejoins the Carolina Panthers, An astonishing legacy: Steve Joyner has coached basketball for 45 years at J.C. Smith, An island of misfit toys: Reich and original Panthers had unforgettable year in 1995, Sources: Former Panthers coach Matt Rhule seeks $5 million from team in arbitration suit, Panthers founder, former owner Jerry Richardson leaves behind a complicated legacy, Carolina Panthers founder and former owner Jerry Richardson dies at 86, A controversial history: Timeline of Jerry Richardsons life, career and team ownership, Panthers great Greg Olsen named his son after late team owner Jerry Richardson, Social media recounts Jerry Richardsons Panthers legacy the good and the bad, Former Panthers coach, players react to Panthers founder Jerry Richardsons death, From the archives: Carolinas NFL dream comes true. Olsen and his wife Kara later named the child Trent Jerry Olsen after Richardson. One of our dear friends said, God does not give out hearts lightly, Rosalind Richardson told The Observer two weeks after the surgery. Entering the last preseason game before final cuts, Richardson and Michigan States John Lewis were battling for the final receiver spot. The family did not own a car until Jerry Richardson was 16. Even in his later years, Richardsons posture showcased what Muhleman called a flawless vertical carriage that made him the tallest 6-foot-3 on the planet.. This website uses cookies and similar technologies to ensure you get the best experience, including personalised content. Richardson was rarely one to back down from a challenge, but there were some challenges he couldn't overcome by sheer force of will and determination. When he owned the team, Richardson would often refer back to the lessons learned selling hamburgers. Jerry Richardson and wife Rosalind Sallenger Richardson established a $500,000 fully endowed scholarship to Winthrop. "From a personal perspective, he was a wise and caring advisor to me, his fellow owners, and many Panthers players and coaches over the years. About the time he came into this world, thunder burst and lightning flashed. pic.twitter.com/9Cjn0PSYW2. Richardson died peacefully Wednesday night at his Charlotte home, the team said in a statement. Former tight end Greg Olsen posted a four-minute video on Twitter, saying when Richardson learned his unborn son had a serious heart defect he insisted on flying his family to Boston Medical Center in his own personal jet so they could receive the best medical advice. "On the NFL's behalf, I extend our sincere condolences to Jerry's wife, Rosalind, and their family.". In the year 2002, he received the heart trouble and had . "The odds against us were huge. And during Richardson's tenure as owner he always made sure the NFL logo instead of his team's was at midfield of Bank of America Stadium. He was 86. In 23 NFL seasons with Richardson as owner, the Panthers qualified for two Super Bowls, in the 2003 and 2015 postseason, although they lost both games. Mar 02, 2023 at 01:47 PM. I am truly heartbroken and sad over the loss of my friend. He was 86. View photos of Richardson from the inaugural season in 1995 through decades of coaches and players in the Panthers community. Richardson had heart problems at some point during his life. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. He went on to make his fortune in the restaurant business, becoming chief executive officer of Flagstar, the sixth-largest food service company in the country at the time. But Richardsons tenure was marred by off-field issues. A public celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Richardson delivered an impassioned speech at the 2010 annual meetings, imploring owners to take back our league. But his hard-line tactics didnt sit well with all players, particularly after he was said to have spoken condescendingly toward Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Drew Brees during a negotiating session. "No one has done more for Wofford students. His mother worked as a sales clerk at a womens dress shop. Richardson would set several Wofford receiving records on his way to a career that led the school to retire his football number. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our. And defensive end Greg Hardy was suspended after he was arrested for communicating threats after allegedly throwing his girlfriend on to furniture and threatening to kill her. Richardson took a lower public profile in later years as his gait and speech slowed he went nine years between press conferences at one point. Here's everything we know, Everything you need to know about Geno Smith's contract negotiations, The most memorable pre-NFL draft workouts ever: Coaches, scouts, execs make their picks, 2023 NFL franchise tag tracker: Raiders tag Josh Jacobs, the NFL's rushing leader. The Panthers decided to charge for the right to buy season tickets in their proposed new stadium a radical idea that later helped build many other stadiums around the country. Muhleman noted the drive that Richardson exhibited in his relentless pursuit of making Carolina the NFLs 29th franchise. In 2000, wide receiver Rae Carruth, the teams first-round draft pick in 1997, was convicted on a murder conspiracy charge in connection with the drive-by shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend. 2005 NFC Wild Card Playoff Game - Carolina Panthers vs New York Giants - January 8, 2006 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey United States January 8, 2006 Photo by Ralph Waclawicz/WireImage.com, To license this image (6995493), contact WireImage: +1 212-686-8900 (tel) +1 212-686-8901 (fax) info@wireimage.com (e-mail) www.wireimage.com (web site), CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 28: Owner Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers looks on before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 13, 2004 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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