text: The Panthers would be assigned to the NFC West to increase the size of that division to five teams; there were already two other southeastern teams in the division, the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints, making Charlotte the easternmost city in the division.
  Dom Capers era: 1995–1998
  The Panthers hired Dom Capers as their inaugural head coach. Capers was formerly the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  1995 season
  During the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft, Rod Smith was the first player selected by the Panthers. During the 1995 NFL draft, the Panthers made their first significant addition (in terms of long-term contributions to the team) by drafting Penn State quarterback Kerry Collins. Upon entering the NFL in 1995, the Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars set about building their respective squads with a luxury not afforded to previous expansion teams: free agency. The Panthers made excellent use of the tool, picking up wide receiver Don Beebe, linebacker Sam Mills, and placekicker John Kasay. The Panthers won the annual Hall of Fame Game against the fellow expansion Jacksonville Jaguars 20–14 (a game known as the "Battle of the Big Cats", due to the similar nicknames of the franchises) on July 29, 1995. General manager Bill Polian, who had built the Buffalo Bills teams that won four consecutive AFC Championships a few years prior, brought many of the contributors from that squad to Carolina, including Carlton Bailey, Frank Reich, Pete Metzelaars and Beebe.