In a season already marked by disappointment, the Carolina Panthers managed to continue frustration among their fanbase through a social media misstep. As the Panthers sit near the bottom of the NFL standings, the team’s attempt to spark excitement with a new uniform combo announcement fell flat, drawing more criticism than applause.

The Panthers shared an Instagram screenshot reposted on X that featured a clunky user interface, leaving the time, battery life, and editing tools visible to the post’s creator. The screencap was a factor amongst Panthers fans, who felt an amateurish execution of the Black Friday announcement.

The post revealed the Panthers’ uniform combination for Week 12’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Panthers wide receiver David Moore showed off the new combo, which features a silver helmet, black jersey, blue pants, and black cleats. While the color combo was unique, it relied on the same silver helmet Panthers players have worn since the franchise’s inception in 1995. For a fanbase craving a true symbol of a new era, the announcement felt like more of the same.

The Panthers’ silver helmets have been a staple of the team’s identity, but the monotony seems to have worn thin. Panthers fans noted how the organization only recently phased out its silver pants worn from 1995 to 2017 for black and white pants and that helmets should follow suit.

Panthers supporters flooded the social media post to express more disappointment than excitement. Many fans called for returning and permanently adopting the black helmet that debuted last season as an alternate. “Gonna say it again,” one fan vented, “Please just get rid of the silver helmets. Idk why you’ve phased the silver pants out almost entirely yet hang on to the helmet when everyone wants it to be Black.”

Another added, “Black helmet with this combo next year, please,” while others were less forgiving, with one fan simply calling the combination “horrible.”The announcement of the Panthers uniform felt symbolic of the franchise’s bigger battles. Since 2017, the team has failed to make the playoffs, and this season, they’re on track for the same result.

The Panthers unveiled a new uniform combo

The Panthers unveiled a new uniform combo ( 

Image:

X [@Panthers])

The Panthers removed the original post

The Panthers removed the original post ( 

Image:

X [@panthers])

While uniform change letdown might seem trivial in the grand scheme, it represented the mediocrity that the fanbase is tired of. Carolina is 9-8 all-time in playoff games, an even 2-2 in NFC championship games, and 0-2 in the Super Bowl.

In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected Bryce Young as the first overall pick, passing on to eventual Rookie of the Year award winner C.J. Stroud. In 2021, the organization drafted cornerback Jaycee Horn over Pro Bowlers Patrick Surtain II, Micah Parsons, Najee Harris, Landon Dickerson, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Carolina has featured five head coaches since 2019 after parting ways with Ron Rivera, who has the most wins in franchise history following a nine-year tenure. Current coach Dave Canales took over the reins this season after signing a six-year deal in January.