Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson dies at 86

Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson died on Wednesday night at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was 86.

Richardson was celebrated for bringing the NFL to Carolina in 1995, but his tenure with the team ended after the 2017 season due to scandal.

«Jerry Richardson's contributions to professional football in the Carolina's are historic,'' current owners David and Nicole Tepper said in a statement. „With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the landscape of sports in the region and gave the NFL fans here a team to call their own.

“He was incredibly gracious to me when I purchased the team, and for that I am thankful.''

We are saddened to hear about the passing of former owner Jerry Richardson. pic.twitter.com/9Cjn0PSYW2

Richardson was forced to sell the team to Tepper for a then NFL-record $2.275 billion after the 2017 season amid allegations of sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace.

He was fined $2.75 million by the NFL after an extensive investigation into the allegations following a story by Sports Illustrated in which four former employees anonymously stated they reached a financial settlement with Richardson in exchange for silence.

Prior to that, Richardson was revered for bringing the Panthers to the NFL in 1995 and helping the team reach Super Bowls after the 2003 and 2015 seasons. He served on some of the league's most prestigious committees and had become one of the more powerful owners.

John Fox, who coached the Panthers from 2002 to 2010 and led them to the Super Bowl in 2003, told ESPN on Thursday that he and his family are „thankful'' for the opportunity Richardson gave them.

“Jerry Richardson brought NFL football to the Carolinas!'' Fox said from the NFL combine in