Bold statement: The Panthers are staking their future on a single snapper who has become a symbol of loyalty, longevity, and team culture. And yes, he’s back for another ride.
Beloved Panthers long snapper JJ Jansen has officially agreed to return for the 2026 season on a one-year contract, the team announced. At 40 years old, Jansen has already carved his name into Carolina’s history by appearing in 277 games across 17 seasons—the most by any player in Panthers franchise history. To put that number in context, that total exceeds the combined regular-season games played by Cam Newton and Greg Olsen for Carolina.
Jansen’s remarkable durability isn’t the only aspect of his tenure that stands out. Throughout his tenure, he has served under eight head coaches, and he is the last remaining player from the squad that competed in Super Bowl 50. Off the field, fans have embraced him for his amiable personality and his popular YouTube series, Cart Talk, which has helped him become a fan favorite beyond his snapping duties.
During a December 31 press conference, Panthers special teams coordinator Tracy Smith spoke highly of Jansen’s future with the team. “He can do this for as long as he wants … he’s everlasting,” Smith remarked with a lighthearted joke about whether Jansen might be a robot or an AI construct. “We’re just going to go for it for the end of time, as far as I’m concerned.”
Jansen’s leadership extended into the captain’s circle in 2025, where he joined Bryce Young and Derrick Brown as one of the three permanent team captains. Smith added that Jansen has embraced the captain role and continually looks for ways to support his teammates on a daily basis.
Regarding the one-year contract pattern Jansen has followed in recent seasons, Smith described such deals as “kind of the norm” for veteran NFL long snappers.
Jansen, a 2013 Pro Bowler, remains with Carolina not merely for his longevity but also for his consistency: the last documented snap error attributed to him dates back to 2010, underscoring a level of reliability that’s rare in professional football. (Note: bad snaps are not officially tracked statistics.)
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