We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!
There are 78 days until the first game of the season for the Carolina Panthers. Today’s piece looks at the history of the number 78 jersey, including current reserve/injured defensive tackle Popo Aumavae.
Aumavae was a 2024 undrafted free agent signing out of the University of Oregon. His injury history in college and the pros makes it highly unlikely that the once promising propsect is going to make a splash for the Panthers. The investment along the defensive line this season by Carolina gives Aumavae only the longest of shots at making the practice squad in 2026.
That seems a fitting story, however, for the number 78 in Charlotte. Aumavae is the 16th player to wear that number in franchise history and only four players, Blake Brockermeyer, Jeno James, Todd Fordham, and Nate Chandler have played for the team for more than one season.
- Brockermeyer was the third ever draft pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 1995 NFL Draft, He was taken 29th overall after the Panthers took Kerry Collins, 5th overall, and Tyrone Poole, 22nd overall. He started almost every game under his rookie contract with the Panthers before continuing his career with the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos.
- James was the 182nd overall pick in the 2000 draft who parlayed a starting gig from the entire 2003 Super Bowl run season into a new contract with the Miami Dolphins. He was released by the Dolphins in 2007 with a knee injury, ending his NFL career.
- Fordham was a 1998 undrafted free agent signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He managed a nine year career as a backup offensive tackle, spending his final three seasons, from 2004-2006, in the league with the Panthers. He started eight games in Charlotte.
- The last player to wear number 78 for any length of time was Cat Scratch Reader’s favorite polarizing project: Nate Chandler. The defensive tackle/offensive guard was one of the stranger stories of the Ron Rivera era for the Carolina Panthers.
Chandler was a 2012 undrafted free agent out of UCLA who recorded six tackles, one fumble recovery, and one pass defensed in ten games as a defensive tackle in 2012. He then converted to and started eight games as a right guard in 2013, before finishing his career with 11 starts at right tackle in 2014.
He spent 2015 on injured reserve, signed with the Chicago Bears in June of 2016, and retired from the NFL six weeks later.