Carolina Panther JJ Jansen on David Tepper’s Drink Incident: ‘He Was Defending Us’

Carolina Panthers fans were quick to react last season when team owner David Tepper made headlines for throwing a drink at a fan on December 31, 2023, during the fourth quarter of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. While the moment became infamous, as video surfaced of the owner in his open-air suite at EverBank Stadium, long-time Panthers long snapper JJ Jansen has a different view on the situation — one rooted in defense and loyalty.

Jansen, who has been with the Panthers since 2009, describes the situation in Jacksonville as far more complicated than it seemed, when he spoke on “The Colin Thompson Show”. “I think one of the most misunderstood sort of moments in Panther history was last year in Jacksonville,” he explained. According to Jansen, this was not just about an owner losing his cool; it was about a group of fans mocking the team during a particularly sensitive moment. Defensive lineman Marquise Haynes had suffered a serious back injury, and with the DeMar Hamlin incident fresh in everyone’s minds, emotions were running high. Jansen notes that for the players and staff, Haynes’ injury was terrifying, and hearing fans taunting the organization only escalated the tension.

For Jansen, the drink-throwing incident wasn’t an isolated outburst but rather a show of support for the team. “He's defending us,” Jansen said. While no one condones the act of throwing a drink, Jansen emphasized that Tepper was responding to fans who were being “nasty and gross” toward the organization. This wasn't a moment of personal frustration for Tepper but a way of standing up for his players, coaching staff, and front office. As Jansen put it, “He cares about us as people and as players.”

Jansen’s perspective sheds light on Tepper’s leadership style, one rooted in loyalty and protection. “He’s on our side. He’s fighting for us,” Jansen said, underscoring how much the players and coaching staff appreciate Tepper’s passion. While the incident may have been ridiculed by some, it’s clear that within the Panthers organization, it was seen as a moment of solidarity.

Ultimately, Jansen believes that Tepper’s actions, while imperfect, came from a place of genuine care for the team. Fans may have seen it as an overreaction, but from the perspective of the players, Tepper was simply defending his own.

While the Jacksonville incident will likely remain a talking point for years to come, Jansen’s comments remind us of the complexity behind these moments. Tepper's actions, in his eyes, were those of an owner fighting for his team — although the NFL disagreed, fining Tepper $300,000 for "unacceptable conduct". Panthers fans can surely appreciate that the players feel the owner has their back, as the organization continues to evolve under his leadership.