1995 Carolina Panthers

The 1995 Carolina Panthers season was the inaugural season for the team in the National Football League. They went a surprising 7–9, given their status as an expansion team, and finished 3rd in the NFC West. The Panthers were already a playoff team in 1996.

Offseason
The Panthers were jokingly called "Buffalo Bills South," because the number of former Bills players on their roster in their first year. Quarterback Frank Reich, wide receiver Don Beebe, tight end Pete Metzelaars and linebacker Carlton Bailey had been large contributors to the Bills in the 1990s. Furthermore, the team's general manager was longtime Bills G.M. and executive Bill Polian.

Records

 * Most victories by an expansion team (7)
 * First expansion team to have a winning record at home (5–3)
 * First expansion team to have a four game winning streak
 * First expansion team to defeat a defending Super Bowl champion in its inaugural season (13–7 over the San Francisco 49ers)
 * First expansion team in NFL history to win its inaugural contest (20–14 over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Hall of Fame Game).