Taken in the second round (44th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Purdue, Kawann Short arrived in Charlotte as an interior disruptor with rare quickness. Operating at defensive tackle, Short developed into one of the premier interior pass rushers in franchise history, combining explosive initial penetration with exceptional run-stopping leverage to collapse pockets from the inside out.

Weighing 315 pounds, Short had a quick first step right after the snap, enabling him to penetrate A-gaps before interior linemen could set. His core strength helped him withstand double teams on run plays, and his swim move combined with aggressive hand techniques made him a difficult matchup for guards on third downs. By collapsing the pocket from inside, Short often forced quarterbacks to scramble wide, into the reach of Carolina's edge rushers.

Following his impactful rotational role in his initial two seasons, Short became a starter in 2015 and had a standout season for an interior lineman in Panthers history. He achieved a career-best 11.0 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles, earning his first Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro honors. He was key to the defense during Carolina's impressive 15–1 regular season and their journey to Super Bowl 50.

Short demonstrated that his breakout campaign was no coincidence, maintaining dominance on the interior line over the next three seasons. Following a significant long-term extension in 2017, he had another exceptional year in 2018, recording 3.0 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and securing his second Pro Bowl selection.

Rotator cuff injuries significantly affected Short's late years in Charlotte, restricting him to only five games in 2019 and 2020. In February 2021, after eight seasons, the Panthers released the veteran tackle during a roster overhaul. Short then retired, leaving a legacy as one of the most formidable interior players in team history. 

Over his career, Short played in 99 regular-season games (76 starts), recording 280 combined tackles, 32.5 sacks, 59 tackles for loss, and 9 forced fumbles.