Josh McCown was named quarterbacks coach of the Panthers in February 2023, his first NFL coaching role after a long career as a quarterback. McCown played in 102 career games over 16 seasons with nine teams, last seeing action in 2019 with the Eagles. He played for the Panthers in 2008-09.

Drawing on his 18 seasons as an NFL quarterback, Josh McCown moves to the sidelines as quarterbacks coach for the Carolina Panthers in 2023.

Originally selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round (81st overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft, McCown played in 102 career games with 76 starts as a player, totaling 17,731 passing yards on 1,584-of-2,633 passing (60.2 percent) with 98 touchdowns and 82 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,106 yards on 248 attempts (4.5 avg.) and 13 touchdowns.

McCown played for 10 teams during his career, including the Panthers from 2008-09. In addition to his time with Arizona (2002-05) and Carolina, McCown also was a member of the Detroit Lions (2006), Oakland Raiders (2007), Chicago Bears (2011-13), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014), Cleveland Browns (2015-16), New York Jets (2017-19), Philadelphia Eagles (2019) and Houston Texans (2020). He also played for the UFL's Hartford Colonials in 2010. He is one of 23 quarterbacks all-time to play in a game at age 39 or older.

Throughout his career, McCown was recognized not only for his play, but for his presence in the locker room and meeting rooms. During his career, McCown won a number of team awards, including the Curtis Martin Team MVP with the Jets in 2017. In 2015, he was nominated by the Cleveland Browns for the NFL's Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award and also earned the Dino Lucarelli Good Guy Award from the Cleveland media. In 2014, McCown was given the Chicago Bears' Piccolo Award given annually to the teammate that exemplifies courage, loyalty, teamwork and dedication.

The first start of McCown's playing career came with the Cardinals against the Panthers on Dec. 14, 2003, a game in which he scored his first career rushing touchdown.

In 2013, he recorded a career-best 109.0 passer rating, throwing for 1,829 yards and 13 touchdowns with one interception in five starts for the Bears. He earned NFC Player of the Week honors in the Week 14 win over Dallas (12/9/13) when he completed 27-of-36 passes (75.0 percent) for 348 yards and four touchdown passes while also adding a rushing touchdown on Monday Night Football.

In his first season with the Jets in 2017, he started 13 games and set career highs in passing yards (2,926), completions (267), passing touchdowns (18), completion percentage (67.3%) and rushing touchdowns (five). His 94.5 passer rating was the fourth-highest single-season total in Jets history and his 67.3 completion percentage was the third-highest mark in team history. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career after throwing for 331 yards and scoring three touchdowns (one passing, two rushing) in a Week 13 victory vs. Kansas City (12/3/17).

McCown ended his career following the 2020 season as one of only three quarterbacks to win Player of the Week awards in both the AFC and NFC since 2013 (Tom Brady and Ryan Fitzpatrick).

McCown's local connection and interest in coaching extends back to 2010 and 2011, when he served as a volunteer quarterbacks coach for Marvin Ridge High School in Waxhaw, N.C.

In 2019, McCown balanced playing for the Philadelphia Eagles while also serving as the quarterbacks coach for Myers Park High School in Charlotte where his sons, Owen and Aiden played. After originally announcing his retirement following the 2018 season, McCown had begun coaching at Myers Park, but then signed with the Eagles following injuries to quarterbacks Nate Sudfeld and Cody Kessler. The Eagles allowed McCown to keep the coaching job as well as he flew back to Charlotte twice a week in-season to juggle his playing and coaching responsibilities. That season, Myers Park went 12-1, advancing to the state 4A semifinals.

McCown spent his final collegiate season at Sam Houston State University in 2001 after playing three seasons for SMU from 1998-2000. During his season with the Bearkats, McCown set single-season school records in completions (259), passing yards (3,481) and touchdowns (32) and was named Southland Football League Player of the Year.

McCown attended Jacksonville (Texas) High School and was named the East Texas Player of the Year as a senior in 1997. He also played basketball and earned All-District second team honors as a senior. His brother, Luke McCown, played 10 seasons in the NFL and appeared in 62 games.

PLAYING CAREER
2002-05 | Arizona Cardinals
2006 | Detroit Lions
2007 | Oakland Raiders
2008-09 | Carolina Panthers
2011-13 | Chicago Bears
2014 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2015-16 | Cleveland Browns
2017-18 | New York Jets
2019-20 | Philadelphia Eagles
2020 | Houston Texans

COACHING CAREER
2023-pres | Carolina Panthers | Quarterbacks