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Big fan of Carolina football? Then check out this list of Carolina Panthers linebackers with photos and seasons as starters.&nbsp;It includes every starting linebacker from throughout <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-carolina-panthers-of-all-time/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Carolina Panthers history</a>, including current linebackers and past ones. An important part of the Carolina defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. Featuring some of the&nbsp;<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-linebackers-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest NFL linebackers</a> of all time,&nbsp;the best Panthers&nbsp;LBs include Dan Morgan, A. J. Klein, James Anderson, and Jon Beason.In the 2017-18 NFL season, the current Carolina Panthers starting LBs and backup LBs are Thomas Davis, Ben Jacobs, Luke Kuechly, David Mayo, Jared Norris, and Shaq&nbsp;Thompson.&nbsp; Who are the best linebackers in Carolina Panthers history? Here is every player who has ever held the position of Carolina Panthers&nbsp;starting linebacker.

List of All Carolina Panthers Linebackers, Ranked Best to Worst

The Best Carolina Panthers Linebackers of All Time

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Luke Kuechly

Luke August Kuechly (born April 20, 1991) is a former American football linebacker who played all eight seasons of his professional career with the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Panthers ninth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. Kuechly played college football at Boston College where he was recognized twice as a consensus All-American. Kuechly had an immediate impact his rookie season, as he led the NFL in tackles and won the Associated Press 2012 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, becoming the third youngest recipient in its history. In 2013, Kuechly became the youngest recipient of the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in its history.

Thomas Davis

Thomas Antonio Davis Sr. (born March 22, 1983) is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). Davis played college football for the University of Georgia, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. In 2012, Davis became the first professional athlete to return to play in his top sporting league after three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, as well as having all three tears in the same knee.

Sam Mills

Samuel Davis Mills Jr. (June 3, 1959 – April 18, 2005) was an American football linebacker who played twelve seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers. He also played for three seasons in the United States Football League (USFL) with the Philadelphia Stars and won two championships.

Dan Morgan

Daniel Thomas Morgan, Jr. (born December 19, 1978) is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons.  He played college football for the University of Miami, was recognized as an All-American, and won multiple national awards.  The Carolina Panthers chose him in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft, and he earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2004. He currently is the Director of Player Personnel for the Buffalo Bills.

Jon Beason

Jonathan "Jon" Beason (born January 14, 1985) is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Miami, and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He also played for the New York Giants.

Kevin Greene

Kevin Greene may refer to:

Kevin Greene (rugby union) (born 1949), New Zealand rugby union player
Kevin Greene (politician) (born 1958), Australian politician
Kevin Greene (American football) (born 1962), American football player
Kevin Greene (archaeologist), British archaeologist
Kevin J. Greene, American law professor

Shaq Thompson

Shaquille Green Thompson (born April 21, 1994) is an American football outside linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington. He also had a short stint with the Boston Red Sox organization as part of their rookie team in the Gulf Coast League. Since being drafted he has played a hybrid safety/linebacker position for the Panthers, also known as the "big nickel".

Lamar Lathon

Lamar Lavante Lathon (born December 23, 1967) is a former professional American football player. He was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 1990 NFL Draft and went on to play eight seasons in the NFL. He last played in 1998 with the Carolina Panthers.

Mark Fields

Mark Anthony Fields (born November 9, 1972) is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League.

Will Witherspoon

William Cordell Witherspoon (born August 19, 1980) is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia. He has also played for the St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans.

Dan Connor

Daniel Murphy Connor (born November 2, 1985) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. He played college football at Penn State University. He is currently a college football coach at Widener University.

James Anderson

James Nathaniel Anderson (born September 26, 1983) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Virginia Tech and was drafted in the third round (88th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.

Greg Favors

Gregory Bernard Favors (born September 30, 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played high school football at Southside High School in Atlanta and college football at Mississippi State.
Favors also played for the Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, and Jacksonville Jaguars. In 1999, the Titans made it to Super Bowl XXXIV in which Favors appeared as a substitute, however they lost to the Kurt Warner-led St. Louis Rams.

A.J. Klein

Micheal Barrow

Micheal Colvin Barrow (born April 19, 1970) is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons.  He played college football for the University of Miami, and was honored as a consensus All-American.  He was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft, and also played professionally for the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys of the NFL.

Chase Blackburn

Chase Wyatt Blackburn (born June 10, 1983) is a former American football linebacker and currently the special teams coordinator for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He won two Super Bowl titles with the Giants, both against the New England Patriots. He played college football at Akron.

Brandon Short

Brandon Darrell Short (born July 11, 1977) is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons.  He played college football for Penn State University, and was recognized as an All-American.  He played professionally for the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers of the NFL, and was a member the Giants' team that played in Super Bowl XXXV. He is currently Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at Round Hill Capital in London and a member of the Pennsylvania State University's Board of Trustees.

Jordan Senn

Jordan Senn (born June 11, 1984) is a former American football linebacker. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Portland State. Senn also played for the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears.

Lester Towns

Lester Towns (born August 28, 1977) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He has played for the Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. He graduated from Pasadena High School in 1995, and subsequently played college football at the University of Washington.
Towns was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 7th round in 2000. 
After his career, Towns was an assistant coach at University of Alabama. He is currently the defensive coordinator at Glendale Community College in Glendale, California.

Na'il Diggs

Na'il Diggs (born July 8, 1978) is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State. Diggs has also played for the Carolina Panthers, St. Louis Rams, and San Diego Chargers.

Greg Lloyd, Sr.

Gregory Lenard Lloyd Sr. (born May 26, 1965) is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was named to five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams.

Dean Wells

Dean Wells (born July 20, 1970 in Louisville, Kentucky) is a former American football linebacker who played in the NFL from 1993 to 2001.  He played for the Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, and New England Patriots.  Wells played college football at the University of Kentucky.

Hannibal Navies

Hannibal Navies (born July 19, 1977 in Oakland, California) is a former American football player in the NFL. Hannibal was a third team All Big 12 selection at the University of Colorado and earned the team’s defensive player of the year award after starting every game at linebacker. He was drafted in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers, then played for the Green Bay Packers.  In 2005, he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals where he started 15 games. Navies was cut in training camp a year later. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers on November 22, 2006, but was cut to make room for Zak Keasey in 2007.
Hannibal is an alumnus of Berkeley High School in Berkeley, California, and runs a football camp called 360 Football Academy that prepares students to become collegiate scholar athletes.

Lee Woodall

Lee Artis Woodall (born October 31, 1969) is a former professional American football player who was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 1994 NFL Draft. A 6'1", 230-lb. linebacker from West Chester University, Woodall played in 8 NFL seasons from 1994 to 2001. He was a rookie for the 49ers during the 1994 season when they beat the San Diego Chargers 49-26 in Super Bowl XXIX. A personal highlight was a fumble return for 96 yards in 1995 in a win against the Buffalo Bills. Selected to the Pro Bowl in 1995 and 1997; his last NFL season was in 2001 with the Denver Broncos. He made a last attempt to play football by signing with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in March 2006. He is married to Terri Matthews, a respected businesswoman who has been mentioned in several media publications.

Andre Royal

Andre Tierre Royal (born December 1, 1972) is a former professional American football player in the National Football League who played linebacker for five seasons for the Carolina Panthers and the Indianapolis Colts. Royal had 140 career tackles, 6 solo sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. Royal was traded to the Indianapolis Colts following several off-the-field incidents prior to the start of the season with The New Orleans Saints.
Royal, signed a guaranteed $4.085 million contract with the Saints as a free agent after previously attaining All-Pro status with the Carolina Panthers, and was expected to start at strong-side linebacker. He was replaced in the Saints' final exhibition game by backup Keith Mitchell.
After reporting to Saints training camp 20 or 30 players including Royal, were involved in a team publicized hazing event in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Several rookies, including Cam Cleeland, were hit with a pillowcase filled with coins as they had to walk through 20 to 30 players lined up on each side of a dormitory hallway.Six players were singled out and named in a lawsuit including: Royal, Brady Smith, Brian Jones, Isaac Davis, Troy Davis, and Keith Mitchell. Defensive line coach, Walt Corey was also named as a defendant. Royal admitted to participating in the incident but said he did not hit the rookies with any objects as the defendants were accused of doing.The Saints' settled with the injured player. The settlement covered all the players except Royal whose suit was dismissed.After being accused of faking a head injury by Coach Mike Dikta in a team meeting; Dikta and Royal engaged in a highly publicized and televised shouting match. Dikta fined Royal $50,000 which Royal appealed to the NFL. Dikta was found to have been "baiting a player" and was fined $50,000.00 instead.In the trade with the Colts, the Saints acquired tight end Scott Slutzker from the Colts for Royal, having been short-handed at that position because of injuries, including that of No. 2 draft pick Cam Cleeland.
Royal went on to star on the field for the Indianapolis Colts leading the Defense across from Offensive All-Pro, Peyton Manning. However, after playing two seasons with the Colts, Royal's NFL Career came to an end from the effects of several head injuries.Royal had offered to voluntarily give up the last 2 years' salary on his four-year contract with the Colts in exchange for being allowed to retire at the end of the first season with the Colts.
Despite Royal's official retirement from the NFL in 2001, several teams approached him about returning to the NFL including the Dallas Cowboys, who offered Royal a 2-year deal following his retirement.
Although Andre Royal never played football before moving to Northport, Alabama during his 8th grade year in junior high school, he went on to earn a four-year college scholarship to the University of Alabama where he studied criminal justice and played on the 1992 NCAA Division I National Football Championship Team. He also had an all-pro career in the NFL, playing on the inaugural team of the Carolina Panthers and in several NFC Championship games.
Royal returned to the University of Alabama to complete and earn his college degree in 2014.

Big fan of Carolina football? Then check out this list of Carolina Panthers linebackers with photos and seasons as starters.&nbsp;It includes every starting ...