Julius Peppers, chosen second overall in the 2002 NFL Draft from North Carolina—after earning both the Lombardi and Chuck Bednarik Awards during his college career—was the quintessential local star. Retaining this multi-talented athlete in his home state turned out to be a brilliant move, as Peppers developed into an extraordinarily athletic pass rusher who set the standard for defense in Carolina during two separate periods.

Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 283 pounds, Peppers redefined the physical profile that offensive coordinators fear on the edge. With a 4.7-second 40-yard dash and basketball-learned vertical leap, he easily countered edge angles through his long stride. He used a long-arm extension to keep offensive tackles at bay, combining it with a swift speed-to-power rush that often collapsed the pocket. His great length also enabled him to swat passes at the line of scrimmage, defend boundary sweeps, and drop into passing lanes to make surprising interceptions for a defensive lineman.

Peppers made a strong start with a breakout 2002 rookie season, achieving 12.0 sacks and five forced fumbles in only 12 games, earning the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. In 2003, he was a key pass-rusher, contributing significantly to Carolina's first division title in seven years and their run to Super Bowl XXXVIII.

His first First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors came in 2004, a standout year in which he recorded 11.0 sacks, led the NFL with 18 tackles for loss, and returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown against Denver. Peppers remained nearly unblockable during the following two seasons, earning Pro Bowl selections in 2005 and 2006, with the 2006 season earning him First-Team All-Pro recognition after posting 13.0 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Named defensive captain in 2007, Peppers reached his career peak in 2008, disrupting opponents’ backfields with 14.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and five forced fumbles, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors. He made his fifth Pro Bowl in 2009 in Carolina after recording 10.5 sacks.

After seven productive seasons away—four with the Chicago Bears and three with the Green Bay Packers—Peppers returned to Charlotte in 2017. At 37, he delivered an impressive 11.0-sack season, contributing to the Panthers making the postseason again, before finishing his career with one last year in 2018.

Peppers appeared in 140 regular-season games, setting franchise records with 97.0 sacks, 34 forced fumbles, and eight blocked field goals. His total of 159.5 career sacks ranks fourth in NFL history. Recognized on both the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Peppers was inducted into the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor in 2019. His legendary career was finally confirmed when he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024 on his first ballot, making him the first franchise-drafted player to be enshrined in Canton.