Panthers' Devin Lloyd wants to be NFL Hall of Famer, next Luke Kuechly

Carolina Panthers icon Luke Kuechly will continue the franchise’s Pro Football Hall of Fame party in Canton, Ohio, with his induction Saturday.

UDFA quarterback Haynes King ignited the festivities with a walk-off, 5-yard touchdown run as time expired Thursday night, propelling the Panthers to a 33-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.  

Recognized as a defender with an elite on-field IQ, Kuechly’s eight seasons with the Panthers capped a near-continuous chain of dominant linebacking play. The run started with Sam Mills (1995-98) and, following a two-season hiatus, current general manager Dan Morgan (2001-07) took over, before handing the positional baton to Jon Beason (2007-13), who overlapped with Kuechly (2012-19).

Last season, Christian Rozeboom served as the top inside linebacker in the 3-4 base defense. In 2024, it was Josey Jewell. In ’23, Frankie Luvu.

In ’26, free-agent signee Devin Lloyd wants to establish a new tradition.

“There’s a lineage of great linebacker play and that’s special to be a part of,” Lloyd said following training-camp practice July 26.

Pro Football Focus on Friday ranked Lloyd as the NFL’s third-best linebacker, behind San Francisco 49ers‘ Fred Warner and Detroit Lions‘ Jack Campbell.

Lloyd wants to be better. He wants to be the best and, possibly, get his own Gold Jacket. 

Coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance last season, Lloyd inked a three-year, $45 million deal early in the free-agency period, potentially ending the Panthers’ seven-season search to adequately replace Kuechly.

“It’s a challenge that I look forward to,” Lloyd said during his introductory press conference, per Panthers.com. “It’s even better having resources like Dan, like Luke, like TD (Thomas Davis Sr.), guys that are around that I can talk to and get their insight on game film or taking care of my body, recovery, all the above, just having those resources there.

“But ultimately, when the standard’s high and the expectation is high, that’s typically a good thing.”

A 2022 first-round draft pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Lloyd collected a career-best 81 combined tackles, seven pass breakups and five interceptions in ’25, but wasn’t offered a fifth season on his rookie deal. He was targeted by Morgan for his playmaking skills.

Among his highlights last season, Lloyd picked off Patrick Mahomes and sidestepped the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback’s lunging tackle attempt, en route to a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Lloyd, along with most of the Panthers’ starters, watched Thursday’s preseason-opening thriller from the sidelines. To start a new linebacking tradition with the Panthers, he entered training camp with a plan.

“For me, it comes down to work ethic, how you treat people and ultimately respecting the game,” Lloyd said. “You’ve got to respect the game and people will see that. And they’ll see how you treat people means a lot (and) how you love those around you, it matters.

“So just being consistent and, and like I said, being myself.”