Selected 34th overall in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft out of UCLA, DeShaun Foster arrived in Charlotte as an athletic running back with dynamic open-field acceleration and sharp cutback vision. Though a microfracture knee injury cost him his entire rookie season, Foster made a resounding statement during Carolina's 2003 postseason run. He powered through five tackle attempts for an iconic 1-yard touchdown in the NFC Championship Game against Philadelphia, then broke free for an explosive 33-yard touchdown burst in Super Bowl XXXVIII against New England.

As his role expanded, Foster developed into the steady, high-volume engine of John Fox’s ground attack. From 2005 through 2007, he put together three consecutive campaigns of at least 850 rushing yards, topping 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of those seasons. His versatility as both a between-the-tackles runner and a reliable target out of the backfield made him an invaluable asset for Carolina's ball-control offenses.

Over five active seasons on the field with the Panthers (2003–2007), Foster appeared in 63 regular-season games with 40 starts. He accumulated 3,336 rushing yards and 996 receiving yards for 4,332 total yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns in Charlotte, while adding another 401 rushing yards across six playoff appearances. Panthers fans remember Foster for his electric open-field bursts, his clutch Super Bowl XXXVIII touchdown, and his steady tenure as the primary focal point of Carolina’s backfield.