Panthers Bring Back for Another Season
J.J. Jansen’s career with the Carolina Panthers will extend for at least one more year, as the veteran long snapper has agreed to a new contract, his agency announced Friday.
Jansen, 39, holds the franchise record for most games played, appearing in 260 contests since joining the team via trade in 2009. He has never missed a game during his tenure, making him a model of durability. His longevity also places him in a tie with Don Mulbach for the most games played by a pure long snapper in NFL history.
Back in 2016, the Panthers signed Jansen to a five-year, $5.48 million contract, a deal that proved to be a solid investment. Since that contract expired, he has played on a series of one-year agreements, with this latest deal marking his sixth consecutive single-season contract. Joe Person of The Athletic recently predicted Jansen would return, making the announcement unsurprising.
While Trey Junkin holds the record for most games played as a long snapper (281), he also spent time as a linebacker and tight end early in his career. If Jansen continues playing beyond 2025, he could challenge that mark, potentially setting a new standard for long snappers in 2026. For now, he is set to enter his 17th season with the Panthers.
Carolina still has decisions to make regarding its special teams unit, as punter Johnny Hekker and kicker Eddy Pineiro are both pending free agents. Person predicts Pineiro will sign elsewhere, a move hinted at earlier in the week when the Panthers signed Matthew Wright to a futures contract. Meanwhile, Hekker’s future remains uncertain—Carolina could opt for a younger replacement, but the 35-year-old is still in contention for a new deal. Regardless of how the rest of the special teams lineup shapes up, Jansen will continue anchoring the snapping duties for another season.
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