After much debate and speculation since new Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper bought the team last July, the organization has finally expanded its Hall of Honor for the first time since 2004.
This year’s class includes wide receiver Steve Smith, Sr. (2001-13), quarterback Jake Delhomme (2003-09), tight end Wesley Walls (1996-02), and offensive tackle Jordan Gross (2003-13).
Prior to this year's inductees, linebacker Sam Mills was the only player with this honor, having been inducted in 1998.
Mills gave the team and iconic phrase, "Keep Pounding," speech. He died in 2005, after battling cancer.
Carolina's PSL Owners (2004) and former team president Mike McCormack (1997) were also inducted.
“This is long overdue,” Tepper said. “We have a great class for this year’s Hall of Honor induction, and I couldn’t be more excited about these four players. The thing I love most about this class is each one of them made a tremendous impact on the field, but they’ve also done incredible work off the field. They are extremely deserving of this honor.”
All four players will be honored at a home game during the 2019 season. The game has yet to be determined.
“It was great. It surprised me how some of the guys reacted, how they were choked up,” Tepper said. “Anybody whose heart is not warmed a little by that, they’ve got a hard heart."
The most notable inductee is Smith, who had a public falling out with the team after former general manager David Gettleman released the five-time Pro Bowler before the 2015 season.
Since Tepper bought the team, the Panthers have made efforts to reconcile their relationship with Smith, including naming him an honorary captain prior to the team's Monday night game last season against the New Orleans Saints.
Tepper informed Smith and the rest of the 2019 class on a Facetime call of their induction.
"It’s good to be back," Smith said.
Smith ranks first in team history with 836 receptions, 12,197 receiving yards and 67 touchdowns.
Delhomme compiled a 53-37 record as the team's starting quarterback and ranks second in team history with 1,580 completions, 19,258 passing yards and 120 touchdown passes.
"It's not often I'm at a loss for words, but I was taken aback and at a loss for words," Delhomme said on WFNZ's Wilson & Parcell. "I'm beyond humbled, and it was like 'Wow!’ It took me a moment to process everything."
Gross started all 167 games he played in for the Panthers and was a three-time Pro Bowler.
Walls, the longest retired player in the class, ranks first in franchise history for tight ends with 44 touchdowns and second among tight ends with 324 receptions and 3,902 receiving yards.
“That was a special moment to hear those words," Walls said. “I started thinking about all my years here and all my teammates and people in the organization and also the city and how much this means to me and my family."
Each player has already been fitted for bronze busts and blue jackets.
Their names will be displayed in the upper bowl of Bank of America Stadium, like the other honorees.
"Going in with those guys is great," Delhomme said. "It's just very special."