Panthers reminded of "their why" while hosting PAL youth team Tuesday

Aug 12, 2025 at 06:11 PM

Kassidy Hill

The Carolina Panthers hold camp Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.

CHARLOTTE — Dom Capers stood just outside the end zone, a smile on his face that he couldn't wipe away, chuckling every time a swell of celebration rose from the line of scrimmage consisting of both Carolina Panthers players and Panthers of the Police Activity League (PAL).

"These kids don't know what they're in for," Capers said as they jogged out for another play.

He didn't mean it as a warning for the under-11 team from the Youth Engagement Unit of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, hosting a "joint-practice" with the elder Panthers—although a warning would have been helpful, given the fact Ikem Ekwonu kept trying to jump in to play guard against guys a fifth of his size.

It was a hope and a wish for the young group from a man who has been around the game for decades, having experienced firsthand what it can do for someone's life.

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That's the goal of PAL. In association with the CMPD, whose officers serve as coaches, the group is a tackle Pop Warner little league that aims to work as a preventive group in the community. They were able to see the culmination of that on Tuesday, when the PAL Panthers visited the Carolina Panthers for a stretch and a team run at the end of practice.

"It means it means the world to our guys, man," said PAL coach Tae Brown. "It's all about the kids, for them to actually have fun, to be around guys that they look up to, to be around coaches and individuals, man, that's just, like I said, that's a blessing for these kids to get that opportunity."

The Panthers players made sure the kids got the most of that opportunity, elevating the tension and excitement around the team period as if it were a playoff game under the lights. While offensive lineman Robert Hunt got into the middle of every huddle, Chuba Hubbard stalked the line of scrimmage, reminding the respective running backs to pick their feet up through traffic.

On the sideline, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero couldn't keep himself from viewing the game as a coach, quietly saying, "I'd go 0 here," on a red zone play.

The smaller Panthers did go 0, sending a house blitz that resulted in a sack, causing the entire defense to go into the stratosphere. And when it was time to buckle up for a defensive stand, the unit argued—vehemently—to get the player who'd most impressed them to that point back on the field.

"He was in the backfield all day," said outside linebacker Mapalo Mwansa of his 11-year-old pass-rushing counterpart.

“Put 6 in the game”

Panthers welcomed PAL league today for a little scrimmage and got REALLY into it. pic.twitter.com/R7BAPY05vL
— Kassidy Hill (@KassidyGHill) August 12, 2025

His presence might have been for naught, though, since the PAL Panthers ran receiver Chase Murray's favorite play, Wing T 19.

Why is it Murray's favorite play?

"I get the ball and score a touchdown."

He did precisely that, even waving at the defense trailing behind him as he strolled into the end zone, met by Bryce Young and the offense in celebration.

"Oh, they couldn't catch me," said Murray afterwards.

Training camp is a busy and draining time for NFL clubs. Tuesday was an exceptionally long, muggy, and stormy day. But the rain cleared and a breeze came through right as practice was ending, almost rewarding the commitment to stay 15 minutes longer, putting off the showers and lunch, to encourage a Pee-Wee team that won't ever forget the day.

We invited kids from Pop Warner’s Police Activities League (PAL) to participate in a scrimmage at today’s practice 🏈 pic.twitter.com/kl4iBdpA76
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 12, 2025

"Early in camp, Dave (Canales) challenged guys to like, remember—you talk about your whys, like why do you play the game," shared offensive coordinator Brad Idzik. "And you dig back to those years, your formative years of the first time you played football, and like it's all dreamy and like yeah I would love to play in the NFL someday

"(So), really cool see those kids out there and it's just like genuine passion, you know, just playing the game because they're having fun with their friends, and then getting to juice them up and and get right in the mix of it, Ickey getting in right guard there when we're missing a body, you know, that was pretty special."

And for the Carolina Panthers, the day was a chance to remember that why; why they love the game.

"I mean it just takes you back to the days when you was doing it and when it was just all about football," said cornerback Jaycee Horn. "Sometimes when you get to this level, you get so much different stuff thrown at you, you know, the pressure, the coaches, and performing well, but those guys out there, they're just running around tackling, playing fast.

"So to be able to see them do that, it just takes you back to those days and just helps you appreciate where you are."