CHARLOTTE — The Panthers are reestablishing the center of their line—literally—after reportedly agreeing to terms with center Luke Fortner.

The Ohio native spent three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars before being traded to the New Orleans Saints ahead of the 2025 season. He played in the Crescent City for one year.

Get to know Fortner better with these fast five facts.

Played throughout interior

The Panthers love having offensive linemen who can cross-train and play multiple positions. Although Fortner has been a center his entire NFL career, he still brings experience as a guard. His first five years at Kentucky (four playing and one redshirt year) were spent as the Wildcats' left guard, even starting at the position for two straight seasons.

Fortner elected to utilize the extra year of eligibility after the COVID-19 pandemic. And ahead of his sixth season, coaches moved him to a new position, center. The move paid off when, after just one year playing in the role, he was named to the first-team All-SEC and improved his draft stock.

Earned multiple degrees

Fortner used his extra time at Kentucky wisely. By the time he headed to the NFL, he'd earned three degrees: a bachelor's, a master's in mechanical engineering, and an MBA.

During his time at school, he used his engineering background to start a new tradition for the Wildcats football team. After partnering with fellow engineering students, he helped create a street-legal, specially designed push cart. Each home game, a patient or family member of a patient from the local children's hospital rides in the car to lead the team into the stadium. Fortner was the first player to push the cart in its debut.

Got an early start in NFL

The Jaguars drafted Fortner in the third round of the 2022 draft and put him right to work. Fortner earned the starting center job as a rookie and continued to start every game for the next two seasons in Jacksonville, including a postseason wild card win against the Chargers.

He was used more as a depth player his third season. After being traded to the Saints, Fortner became the starter in New Orleans beginning in Week 8. He was the starting center for Tyler Shough's run as the starting quarterback, during which time the Saints went 5-4.

Finished 2025 in Top 10

After slotting into the starting center role with the Saints, Fortner became one of the best in the league. He allowed a mere 4.8 percent quarterback pressure rate, which was eighth-lowest amongst qualifying centers in the league (a minimum of 350 pass blocking snaps).

Partners with food bank in Kentucky

Fortner remains incredibly loyal to his community back in Kentucky. Even while playing in different cities across the NFL, the offensive lineman has made a point to return to Lexington and work alongside his former college teammates, partnering with God's Pantry Food Bank to provide 1.2 million meals for those facing food insecurity.

"Central Kentucky's just been such a big part of all our lives," Fortner said when partnerning with the non-profit. "We've been so happy to receive the support of Central Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, and the state of Kentucky as a whole, so to be able to give back to that cause and support these people has been really special to us."