Selected 13th overall in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft out of Oregon, Jonathan Stewart entered Charlotte as a bone-crushing, physical runner. Teaming up with DeAngelo Williams, "J-Stew" formed the smash-mouth half of Carolina's legendary "Double Trouble" backfield, giving the franchise a relentless ground attack that punished defenses for a decade.

Stewart was built like an iron bowling ball. Possessing a rare combination of lower-body power and nimble footwork, he specialized in running through arm tackles, bouncing off linebackers at the line of scrimmage, and wearing down opposing front sevens in the fourth quarter. Stewart was a master of contact balance, routinely turning potential losses into hard-fought four-yard gains and punishing defensive backs who tried to tackle him in the open field.

Stewart made an immediate impact during his rookie season in 2008, setting a franchise record for rookies with 10 rushing touchdowns and accumulating 836 rushing yards. His most outstanding individual statistical season occurred in 2009. Collaborating with Williams, Stewart achieved 1,133 rushing yards at an average of 5.1 yards per carry and scored 10 touchdowns. On December 27, 2009, in a game against the New York Giants, he delivered one of the most commanding rushing performances in the history of the franchise, rushing for 206 yards. During that season, Stewart and Williams became the first pair of teammates in NFL history to each rush for over 1,100 yards in the same year.

Whether functioning as part of a tandem or assuming the role of the primary bell-cow back during Cam Newton’s MVP period, Stewart’s rugged running style constituted the cornerstone of Carolina's offensive strategy. His contributions reached a pinnacle in 2015, when he accumulated 989 rushing yards and six touchdowns over 13 games, securing his inaugural Pro Bowl selection. He concluded that remarkable year by scoring two touchdowns in the postseason, including the opening touchdown in Super Bowl 50.

After ten bruising seasons as the heart of Carolina’s rushing attack, Stewart spent his final NFL season with the New York Giants in 2018, appearing in three games before retiring. In April 2019, he signed a one-day contract with Carolina to officially retire as a Panther.

Stewart appeared in 131 regular-season games (62 starts) with the Panthers. He departed as the franchise’s all-time leading rusher with 7,318 rushing yards and 51 rushing touchdowns, while adding 162 receptions for 1,295 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches.