Owner of the Carolina Panthers David Tepper faces a $300,000 fine for hurling a drink at Jaguars supporters following an injury…
Owner of the Carolina Panthers David Tepper was fined $300,000 by the NFL on Tuesday for actions during Sunday’s 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars that the league considered to be “unacceptable conduct.” Tepper was shown on camera tossing a drink at Jaguars supporters from his outdoor suite at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.
The NFL underlined in response to the fine that all employees are expected to maintain behavior that respects fans and reflects well on both their team and the league. Tepper apologized for his behavior, acknowledged his love for the team, and said he should have let NFL stadium security handle any problems that came up. He acknowledged and accepted the NFL’s disciplinary actions as well as its code of conduct.
With a net worth of $20.6 billion, Tepper is the second-richest owner in the league. Therefore, the $300,000 fine represents less than 1% of 1% of Tepper’s wealth. This fine is similar to the $250,000 fine that was placed on former Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams in 2009 for making an offensive gesture towards Buffalo fans during a victory celebration. The incident was caught on camera by a Jaguars fan and was shared on social media approximately three minutes before the game ended, after quarterback Bryce Young intercepted the ball. The Panthers (2–14) lost, ending their 342-game winning streak (which dates back to 2002). The Panthers’ record was also their worst record, giving the Chicago Bears the #1 pick in the 2024 draft. exchange.
Since the draft, when they moved up and selected Young by trading two first-round picks and top receiver DJ Moore, Carolina has clearly struggled. As one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL, Young has historically performed poorly, despite Tepper’s prior endorsement that he will lead the Panthers to “Super Bowls.” With a 31-67 record, the team has had six straight losing seasons since Tepper acquired it in 2018. Since 2019, Tepper has changed head coaches three times in the middle of the season, sacking Matt Rhule and Frank Reich for their respective teams’ dismal beginnings.