The Carolina Panthers ended their seven-year playoff drought in 2025, as the Panthers won the NFC South thanks to a three-way tiebreaker in their favor, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, and Panthers all tied.
The Panthers last made the playoffs in 2017, but it was a swift exit with a 31-26 loss to the New Orleans Saints in the wild-card round. You have to go back a little further to get to Carolina's last playoff win.
The Panthers haven't had a winning season since their last playoff appearance. They have arguably become the laughing stock of the NFL with consistent poor results, and it may shock you to learn that their last playoff win came during a postseason run to the Super Bowl.
Here is more on when the Panthers last won a playoff game.
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Last time Panthers won a playoff game
The Panthers last won a playoff game in 2016. Carolina finished the 2015 regular season with a 15-1 record, sitting atop the NFC South. The Panthers had a bye in the Wild Card Round and then knocked off the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round. This set up an NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Carolina dominated the game, winning 49-15. The Panthers were led by quarterback Cam Newton, who had 335 passing yards with two touchdowns and another two touchdowns on the ground. Star linebacker Luke Keuchly sealed the win with a fourth-quarter pick-six.
The play came 15 seconds after Newton had hit Devin Funchess for the touchdown, and Mike Tolbert converted the two-point conversion, giving Carolina 15 points in 15 seconds of game time.
Panthers' Super Bowl record
Despite being 30 years old as a franchise, Carolina has played in two Super Bowls. The Panthers took on the New England Patriots in the 2004 Super Bowl, but lost 32-29 thanks to a field goal from Adam Vinatieri with nine seconds left.
Carolina next made the Super Bowl in 2016. The Panthers took on Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Denver won 24-10.
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Panthers playoff record
The Panthers were instituted into the NFL in 1995, making them one of the youngest franchises in the league. Since its inception, Carolina has played in 17 total playoff games and has gone 9-8 so far.
Dave Canales playoff record
Canales was hired to be the Panthers' new head coach ahead of the 2024 season. It was the first head coaching job of his career, and the 2025 postseason berth is the first of his career.
So far, Canales is 0-0 in the playoffs.