The Carolina Panthers have opted to maintain a regular work schedule following their recent string of victories, forgoing the traditional “Victory Monday” typically awarded to NFL teams after a win. This decision comes after the Panthers secured their fourth win of the season, marking the first time since 2019 that the team has been above .500 this late in the season.
Defensive tackle Derrick Brown made it clear after Sunday’s 13-6 win over the Jets that the team would not be taking a Victory Monday. “Never,” Brown said when asked if the team would receive the customary day off.
Victory Monday is an informal practice in the NFL, where players are given an extra day off after a win, in addition to their usual Tuesday break. Despite this tradition, head coach Dave Canales and the Panthers are focusing on maintaining their routine and work ethic.
“We’re in the process right now,” Brown said. “We’re in the process, and the process right now doesn’t come with Victory Monday, so we’re going to get ready to go to work tomorrow and get ready to turn the page (for) Buffalo.”
Instead, the Panthers hold what they call “Tell the Truth Monday,” a day dedicated to honest self-assessment and improvement. “We call it ‘Tell the truth Monday’ because whether you win or lose, you got to look at the tape and look at the areas that we need to improve,” Canales explained. “You celebrate the things we did well, and what we try to do is show film of the practice and preparation showing up in the games, and this just solidifies the process. This solidifies what it takes to find your best.”
Brown has become a key figure in reinforcing this culture within the team. “That’s just, that’s not the program that coach has built,” Brown said, dismissing the idea of taking a Victory Monday off.
Canales praised Brown’s commitment, stating, “I just love that Derrick is really connected to that part of it. Like, regardless of what happens, guys, tomorrow we show up, we go right back to work.”
Players like safety Tre’von Moehrig and linebacker Trevin Wallace echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of staying focused and not letting recent wins distract from ongoing goals. “No, it’s just like, treat every game the same, and we get another win, doesn’t mean the work stops,” Moehrig said. Wallace added, “Although we won on Sunday, let’s not get too big-headed. We already know, ‘Hey, we won, leave that in the past, on to the next opponent.’ Go on Monday, watch what we need to clean up, and on to the next.”
Brown’s leadership has extended beyond his on-field performance, with teammates noting his influence in both serious and lighthearted moments. Rookie Nic Scourton described Brown as dominant on the field but approachable and humorous off it.
Canales concluded, “I love that our leadership is focused that way. They certainly understand that we haven’t seen our best football, we have not—we’ve seen glimpses of it. We’ve seen excellent play in areas, but there’s so much more out there for us, and we should just continue to be trying to improve our processes all the way through the end of the season.”
