CHARLOTTE — Mapalo "Maz" Mwansa has achieved a dream he didn't even know he had until recently. If you google his name, one of the first results is for his LinkedIn page for his accounting job—well, his former accounting job. The defensive end was signed by the Carolina Panthers this week through the NFL's International Player Pathway program.
"I would never have thought I would be doing this four or five years ago," Mwansa told The Associated Press. "Even two years ago, football was not in the picture for me. The journey's been a complete whistle-stop tour, and I'm trying to soak in as much as I can and just enjoy every bit of the process."
Mwansa is a native of Peterborough, England, a city in eastern England due north of London. He grew up playing rugby, soccer, basketball, track and field, and even cricket. When his school hosted a "sports day" on campus and Mwansa ran a 100-meters in 10.48 seconds, others around the sporting world started taking notice.
The now 20-year old familiarized himself with American football by watching Netflix's "Last Chance U" and "Quarterback" to learn more about the game, before joining the Nottingham Caesars, an American football team in the British American Football Association National League. He then spent a year with the Great Britain National Team for the 2024 European Championship.
He first made an impression on Panthers Director of Player Personnel, Cole Spencer during a joint Pro Day between the IPP and University of South Florida.
"He definitely didn't look out of place. In fact, he had better numbers than a lot of the guys at that Pro Day. He just stood out from a measurable standpoint," Spencer said
"By his times, the vertical jump, and then the way he moved, you could tell he was trained well at the IPP program. He was athletic, he looked the part, he looked explosive and has a pretty good change of direction. Anytime you get a raw ball of clay like that, and the league affords a roster spot, it's pretty cool."
Mwansa will join a room that added Patrick Jones II this offseason, as well as new outside linebackers coach, AC Carter.
View photos of the Panthers' second week of voluntary offseason workouts on Tuesday.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.
