Unrated and overlooked as an undrafted free agent out of Southwestern Louisiana in 1997, Jake Delhomme spent six years grinding on practice squads, in NFL Europe, and backing up Aaron Brooks in New Orleans. Signing with Carolina in 2003, he stepped off the bench in Week 1 to ignite a second-half comeback victory—and immediately captured the heart of the franchise.

Delhomme brought intense fire, rapid decision-making, and an unshakeable late-game clutch factor to Foxboro-style cardiac games. Operating John Fox’s run-heavy, play-action offense, he possessed the rare courage to stand in against interior pressure and launch vertical boundary strikes to receivers like Steve Smith Sr. and Muhsin Muhammad. His hallmark was his Fourth-Quarter magic—Delhomme earned the nickname "Ragin' Cajun" for his ability to lead dramatic, game-winning drives when everything was on the line.

Delhomme’s first season in 2003 was like a Hollywood story. He set an NFL record with seven game-winning drives during the regular season, leading the "Cardiac Cats" to the playoffs. In four playoff games, he threw for 987 yards, including an exciting double-overtime win in St. Louis. He also set an NFL postseason record with an 85-yard touchdown pass to Muhsin Muhammad in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

He built on his impressive streak over the following two years. In 2004, even though he lost key offensive players to injury, Delhomme achieved a career-high 3,886 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. His peak came in 2005 when he threw for 3,421 yards and 24 touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Delhomme then guided Carolina to away playoff wins against the Giants and Bears, advancing to the NFC Championship Game.

After missing three games due to a thumb injury in 2006, adversity struck again in 2007 when Delhomme suffered a season-ending Tommy John elbow injury just three games into the year. He made a triumphant return in 2008, throwing for 3,288 yards and leading Carolina to a 12–4 record and an NFC South title. However, the season ended on a crushing note when he threw five interceptions in a playoff loss to Arizona on his birthday.

Believing in his leadership, the organization signed Delhomme to a lucrative five-year contract extension in the spring of 2009. But the magic faded in 2009. Plagued by turnovers and a nagging finger injury that landed him on injured reserve, Delhomme struggled through 11 starts. In March 2010, the Panthers made the difficult business decision to release the veteran quarterback. He closed out his career with brief stops in Cleveland (2010) and Houston (2011).

In his seven seasons in Charlotte (2003–2009), Delhomme started 90 regular-season games, accumulating 19,258 passing yards, 120 touchdowns, and a franchise-record 21 game-winning drives. He also won five postseason games as a starter.

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB. Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players and executive.  As such it is news to us that the Carolina Panthers have announced that four new members will be added to their Hall of Honor for 2019.

Before we look at those new members, let’s take a look at the Hall of Honor itself, which is still in a state of development.  Prior to this announcement, only two people were honored, that of former player Sam Mills and former executive Mike McCormack who were inducted way back in 1998.  There had been no discernable talk after about new members would enter the Hall of Honor but this changed when the new owner David Tepper bought the team.  

The Class of 2019 are:

Jake Delhomme: Quarterback 2003-09.  Delhomme arrived in 2003 as a free agent and took over as the team’s starter quickly coming in during the first game of the season in relief of Rodney Peete.  This began a Cinderella season where he took the Panthers all the way to an unexpected Super Bowl XXXVIII appearance where they lost in the last play of the game to the New England Patriots.  Delhomme would remain the team’s QB through to 2009 and the 2005 Pro Bowl Selection would throw for 19,258 Yards and 120 Touchdowns as a Panther.

Jordan Gross: Offensive Tackle 2003-13.  Gross would play 167 Games in the NFL all with Carolina and he started them all.  Gross was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection who was also chosen in 2018 as a First Team All-Pro.

Steve Smith: Wide Receiver 2000-13.  Smith was drafted in the 3^rdRound in 2001 out of Utah and he would become the greatest offensive threat in Panthers history. He was a Pro Bowl Selection four times and a First Team All-Pro twice and in 2005 he would lead the NFL in Receptions (103), Receiving Yards (1,563) and Receiving Touchdowns (12).  Before he signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2014, Smith would accrue 836 Receptions, 12,197 Yards and 67 Touchdowns as a Panther. Smith is considered to be a solid threat to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame once eligible.

Wesley Walls: Tight End 1996-02.  Walls played six years in the NFL before joining Carolina in 1996 and it was there where he had his best years.  Walls played in Carolina for seven years and was a Pro Bowler in five of them.  With the Panthers he would accumulate 324 Receptions, 3,902 Yards with 44 TDs.

Going forward, what we know is that the other considered nominees for the Class of 2019 was not revealed and that there is no guarantee that there will be an inductee every year.  While it has not been finalized, the belief is that a player must have played for the organization for a minimum of three years and be retired for at least two.  Both Mills and McCormack have statues, but it will be commemorative busts for the new inductees. Their names will be added to the upper bowl inside the stadium.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate and Jake Delhomme, Jordan Gross, Steve Smith and Wesley Walls for earning this honor.