CHARLOTTE — As the offseason and free agency wore on, Sam Martin came to a realization.

After spending time on four different teams over the course of 13 years in the league, the punter had found the place he wanted to finish his career. Considering other options, while smart and recommended at the outset of free agency, was also pointless.

He wanted to be home.

"This is my 14th season (coming up). Next year it'll be 15. I'm now for sure retiring a Panther," Martin shared Thursday moments after signing the contract that would return him to Charlotte on a two-year deal.

"Whether it's in two years or sign another (contract)—get me the JJ plan," he joked, referring to long-snapper JJ Jansen's history of signing one-year deals to continue returning to the Panthers.

"I knew I liked it here. I like (special teams coordinator) Tracy (Smith), I like (head coach) Dave (Canales). I like the organization, and it just felt right. I just want to be happy and just keep playing.

"That was kind of like the epiphany. It was more about just staying here at that point."

The decision to return after his initial one-year deal had expired was impacted by several reasons.

One, the comfort and familiarity with the organization and coaches, as Martin mentioned.

Second, the proximity to family. His sister and her family live in the Queen City as well, and 2025 gave Uncle Sam a new perspective on how life could be lived when family and football worked cohesively.

"That definitely, that helps," he admitted. "It was really nice. Spent a lot of time with my nieces and nephews last year, and they're at every game and just dinners and baseball games and all that kind of stuff. It was a lot of fun. So yeah, that definitely played a factor. It was nice and being able to continue that as well."

Third, the chance to reunite with Jansen and kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, going into his second year. The trio—including the veterans Martin (36 years old), Jansen (40 years old), and the young buck Fitzgerald (25 years old)—quickly found a groove that transcended generational gaps and institutional knowledge of the league.

Together, they helped facilitate four game-winning field goals in 2025, were the first team in the league to successfully complete an onside kick this season (and one of only five to do so all regular season), and the only team in the NFL during the regular season to notch two coffin corner punts.

Additionally, Martin had the sixth-best percentage league-wide for punts inside the 20-yard line (48.2 percent).

It's the kind of chemistry Martin said you "100 percent" can't take for granted. Plus, "it's nice not being the oldest guy in the room," he joked.

"But it's also nice having a younger guy too, and I actually thrive. I enjoy having a younger guy in the room for multiple reasons.

"It's an opportunity to mentor and help a young guy out. It also keeps you young, in a sense, and reminds you why you're still doing it, and, in my case, you see yourself 14 years ago in Ryan, and it's cool. It keeps you grounded. It keeps you humbled in the sense of you're still doing it.

"He keeps me up on TikToks, him and JJ's kids."

Martin couldn't stay long. Now that he not only has a two-year contract in hand but also a plan for post-football courtesy of his offseason epiphany, he had to leave quickly to look at homes. But there was one more point to make for why he wants to not only retire here but return here and continue playing for the Panthers.

"It was awesome to see how we grew up through the whole year and how we finished," the veteran punter said, pointing to individual weeks and performances of a special teams unit that became one of the best. "It goes for Tracy and (special teams assistant) DB (Darren Bates) also.

"I think we really finished strong, so it's exciting to continue that."