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A Decision Has Been Made on Panthers’ Longest-Tenured Player
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- A Decision Has Been Made on Panthers’ Longest-Tenured Player
The Carolina Panthers are moving forward with a familiar presence as they look to build off their first NFC South title since 2015. As teams across the NFL continue reshaping special teams units for the long grind of the regular season, Carolina is leaning on stability and experience.
The Panthers announced Tuesday that they have re-signed long snapper J.J. Jansen to a one-year deal. The move locks Jansen into his 18th season with the franchise and extends one of the most durable runs in team history. As NFL insider Jonathan Jones noted, "No one in world history has played more games for the Carolina Panthers than Jansen."
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That number now stands at 277 games since arriving in a 2009 trade from the Green Bay Packers . Jansen, who turned 40 in January, already holds the franchise record for games played. He broke former kicker John Kasay's mark of 221 in 2022 and has continued to add to it.
The return also keeps Carolina's special teams foundation intact as the team builds toward 2026. Jansen has been part of four division-winning teams in 2013-15 and 2025. He was on the roster during the 2015 Super Bowl run and remains one of only two current Panthers players to have appeared in the postseason since 2017.
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"I've never had a doubt [about returning]," Jansen said prior to last month's wild card game against the Los Angeles Rams . "I've sort of told myself for a while now that I want to be part of it again… I've always said I wanted to be a part of one more full run all the way up."
Carolina Panthers long snapper J.J. Jansen (44) runs against Arizona Cardinals running back Bam Knight (20) during the second quarter at State Farm Stadium.
His consistency has made him a fixture in the locker room. A three-time team captain, Jansen's role goes beyond clean snaps on field goals and punts. Special teams coach Tracy Smith praised both his durability and leadership.
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"He's everlasting," Smith said late last season. "There's no proof that he's not a robot. Nobody knows that he is not AI. We're just going to go forward to the end of time, as far as I'm concerned."
Among active players, only Marcedes Lewis (290 games) and Calais Campbell (278) have appeared in more contests than Jansen. He ranks 27th on the NFL's all-time games played list and could move into the top 20 if he completes another full season.
Very few players have competed past age 40. In Panthers history , only quarterback Vinny Testaverde (44 in 2007) and Kasay (41 in 2010) played at that age or older.
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As the Panthers continue their climb, Jansen will once again be in the middle of it, snapping, leading and extending a franchise record that now reaches 18 seasons.
Related: Watching Tape With Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
