Panthers Owner to get Heart Transplant

Former NFL player and Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is in need of a heart transplant. The 72-year-old was hospitalized last week and has since been placed on a heart donor waiting list, putting a damper on the celebratory mood in Charlotte this week following the Panthers’ big win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. This week’s announcement that Richardson needs a heart transplant is shocking news, but is not completely unexpected. Richardson has had problems with heart health over the last several months, and he underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2002, even having a pacemaker installed last month to control his heart rhythm.

Jerry Richardson’s absence at Carolina’s Bank of America Stadium has been noticeable to many, but his two sons Mark and Jon continue to hold down the fort while their father is missing in action. Richardson has a deep history with the NFL, as he was a former Baltimore Colt and helped the team win the 1959 NFL championship game after catching a touchdown pass from legendary quarterback Johnny Unitas. Richardson scored the expansion team the Panthers in 1993 after working for years to make it happen, and he also owns the Panthers’ home field at the Bank of America Stadium.

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