TEAM SUPER BOWL HISTORY
Have the Carolina Panthers Ever Won a Super Bowl?
No. The Carolina Panthers have never won a Super Bowl. Carolina is 0–2, with losses to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
The two appearances barely resemble each other. Jake Delhomme helped turn the first into a late scoring race. Twelve years later, Cam Newton faced a Denver defense that controlled the line of scrimmage and never let Carolina settle into its usual rhythm.
Records reviewed through Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026.
- Super Bowl Titles
- 0
- Super Bowl Appearances
- 2
- Super Bowl Record
- 0–2
- Last Appearance
- 2016 / Super Bowl 50
Two Trips, Two Very Different Games
The 2003 Panthers arrived as a tough, balanced team under John Fox and then traded fourth-quarter scores with the Patriots. The 2015 team was a 15–1 NFC champion built around Newton’s MVP season, a fast defense and the confidence to pressure opponents from the opening drive.
New England survived Carolina’s late push. Denver prevented one from developing. The first game rewarded the Panthers for staying aggressive; the second punished every protection breakdown and every loose ball.
COMPLETE APPEARANCE RECORD
Every Carolina Panthers Super Bowl Appearance
| Year | Super Bowl | Opponent | Result | Final score | MVP | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Super Bowl XXXVIII | New England Patriots | Loss | New England Patriots 32, Panthers 29 | Tom Brady | Reliant Stadium |
| 2016 | Super Bowl 50 | Denver Broncos | Loss | Denver Broncos 24, Panthers 10 | Von Miller | Levi's Stadium |
Super Bowl XXXVIII Was Carolina’s Best Chance
Carolina’s three-point loss to New England remains its closest Super Bowl. Delhomme threw three touchdown passes, including an 85-yarder to Muhsin Muhammad, and the Panthers erased an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The game was tied at 29 with 1:08 left.
The Patriots still had enough time. Tom Brady moved New England into range and Adam Vinatieri hit the winning field goal with four seconds remaining. Carolina had gone from scoreless in the first quarter to one possession from overtime, which is why this appearance still feels so different from Super Bowl 50.
GAME-BY-GAME HISTORY
Carolina Panthers Super Bowl Results, Explained
2004 · New England Patriots
Super Bowl XXXVIII
New England Patriots 32, Panthers 29
- Location
- Reliant Stadium · Houston, Texas
- MVP
- Tom Brady
Turning point: Tom Brady’s final drive set up Adam Vinatieri’s 41-yard winning field goal with four seconds left.
Carolina did not score until late in the first half, then Jake Delhomme started finding room downfield. The Panthers produced 19 points in the fourth quarter and tied the game at 29. New England’s final possession was the difference, ending with Adam Vinatieri’s field goal instead of overtime.
2016 · Denver Broncos
Super Bowl 50
Denver Broncos 24, Panthers 10
- Location
- Levi's Stadium · Santa Clara, California
- MVP
- Von Miller
Turning point: Von Miller’s first-quarter strip-sack produced a Denver defensive touchdown and established the matchup.
Denver did not need a wide-open offensive game because its defense kept winning first. Von Miller forced two Cam Newton fumbles, including the strip-sack that became the game’s first touchdown. Seven sacks and four Carolina turnovers kept the Panthers from building the run-pass pressure that carried them through a 15–1 season.
From a Shootout to a Defensive Grind
Carolina reached the game with different coaches, different quarterbacks and different offensive identities. Delhomme’s group found explosive plays after a slow start. Newton’s team entered as the favorite but ran into Von Miller and a Denver front that could win without asking much from its offense.
The common thread is that Carolina had a legitimate NFC champion in both eras. The endings were not interchangeable: one came down to the final possession, while the other was dictated by pressure from the opening quarter.