The legend returns for another ride.
The Carolina Panthers have re-signed long snapper JJ Jansen to a one-year deal, bringin him back for a 17th consecutive season with the franchise. Jansen is far and away the longest tenured Panther either on the team presently or in franchise history.
Jansen has provided the team with consistency and personality at a position that brooks no chaos. The 39-year old has been a stable locker room presence since the waning days of John Fox’s career in the Carolinas and is clearly looking to continue that role into the start of his 40’s.
Go ahead and read the article that team writer Darin Gantt put together for the occasion. It celebrates Jansen’s a remarkable collection of records, streaks and superlatives. Few players in the NFL have ever played as long or as consistently as Jansen. He only needs to play most of the next two seasons to become the longest tenured long snapper in the history of the NFL.
Long snappers aren’t exactly at the top of the list for enshrinement in Canton, but that’s the kind of accomplishment that at least gets a jersey entered into the Hall of Fame’s collection.