NFL Unanimously Approves Panthers’ Sale To David Tepper

ATLANTA, GA — The league is welcoming David Tepper with open arms after approving the sale of the Panthers Tuesday afternoon.

Tepper and Richardson reached an agreement on the sale earlier this month, and all that was left was for the other NFL owners to sign off on it.

That vote here today was expected to be a formality, and Tepper cleared the finance committee and owners votes unanimously!

“The first thing I care about is winning. The second thing I care about is winning. And the third thing I care about is… (crowd: Winning!). You guys are smart,” said Tepper today during a news conference in Atlanta.

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. New Panthers owner David Tepper certainly impressed in his introductory press conference.

“I think it’s a fantastic place with a great football tradition. I think it’s a great football area with good people,” says Tepper.

Panthers fans have been dying to know what Tepper’s plans are for the franchise. Today, he put to rest any fears over a move.

“You know there is a logical place for this team to Charlotte. And it is “Carolina Panthers.” And that means this team has to have some sort of presence in the Carolinas.”

Eric Spanberg, with the Charlotte Business Journal says, “He was pretty comfortable saying the long-term home is going to be Charlotte, doesn’t know about the stadium and how that’ll change but I think PSL holders can probably for the next couple years.”

Spanberg says Tepper’s business background impressed the other owners. “I don’t think he’s going to let a whole lot of time go to waste. I think he’s going to get in there. He’s going to see what he has. He’s going to assess it. And then he’s going to start making moves.”

Tepper will take the reigns when the sale is final in July, and he’s only focusing on the future.

“I’m a person that believes in equality for everybody including men and women,” says Tepper. “And I think versus me talking about what happened, anything good, bad or different in the past. The past in the past. The future will be that.”

Jerry Richardson was also at the meeting this afternoon.

He presented Tepper to the other owners, then read a prepared statement and shared some memories with his colleagues.