The Carolina Panthers have announced their intention to exercise the fifth-year option on quarterback Bryce Young’s contract, keeping him with the team through the 2027 season. The decision was confirmed by general manager Dan Morgan during a press conference on Tuesday.
“Bryce has shown flashes of greatness this year against high level competition,” Morgan said Tuesday after announcing the decision to pick up the option.
Young played a key role in leading the Panthers to their first NFC South division title and home playoff game in ten years. Over the past season, he set career highs in passing yards (3,011), touchdowns (23), completion percentage (63.6%), and passer rating (87.8). He also recorded six game-winning drives in either the fourth quarter or overtime this year, bringing his total to 12 since joining the league in 2023—more than any other quarterback during that period.
In games decided by one score, Young posted a passer rating of 101.2, ranking third among NFL quarterbacks behind Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. His touchdown-to-interception ratio in second halves was among the top five league-wide, and he led all quarterbacks in passing yards on fourth downs with 285.
Morgan praised Young’s development throughout the season: “I think Bryce did a great job this year and just really excited about moving forward and him still developing chemistry with our receivers, and just the pieces around him that we had.”
He continued: “If you look at Bryce on a day to day basis out there, his work ethic out there, his ability to command the huddle out there, take control of the line of scrimmage, make the proper checks, make the proper protection calls, and then really having that translate into Sunday or Saturday or whenever we play.
“I just felt like he had a lot more command out there this year, and really just kind of coming into his own and getting better every week, and just attacking every day. And that’s really all you can ask for just from any player, let alone your quarterback.”
Selected as the first overall pick in 2023, Young is now under contract for two more seasons as Carolina develops its offense around younger receivers such as Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, and Jimmy Horn Jr.. McMillan led all rookie receivers this year while Coker had standout performances including against Los Angeles Rams.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales commented on how Young’s leadership influenced team cohesion: “It was unbelievable to watch the guys, just really a culmination of the work that’s been happening, behind the scenes at practice, the conversations in the hallways, you know, in meeting rooms, and Bryce right at the center of all that,” Canales said. “We’ve needed that time on task for this group…to see it come alive in the game…was fantastic…to see them not shy away from the moment but to attack it…”
Defensive captain Derrick Brown also highlighted Young’s resilience: “Man, Bryce has had a damn good year,” Brown said. “So many people rag on him…if it was easy everybody would play quarterback…but that ain’t quite the case.
“So man I’m just proud of him and his growth throughout the year standing tall in front of team no matter if it was when we got beat…we got something to say…I mean we get it every single week.”
The Carolina Panthers are based in Charlotte and compete as part of the NFC South division since joining as an NFL expansion team in 1995. The organization has captured multiple division titles—including recent success—and emphasizes building championship culture alongside community outreach efforts across North Carolina and South Carolina (official website).
