The Panthers chose Jeremy Chinn of Southern Illinois in the second round (64th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft, arriving in Charlotte as a hyper-athletic hybrid defender with elite size-speed measurables. Operating across defensive coordinator Phil Snow’s unit, Chinn lined up as an inside linebacker, strong safety, nickel back, and perimeter cornerback, giving Carolina a dynamic positional chess piece.

Chinn made an immediate impact as a rookie in 2020, establishing one of the most productive defensive campaigns in the league. Primarily operating as a linebacker, he led all NFL rookies with 117 total tackles and contributed two sacks, five passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. During a Week 12 game against Minnesota, Chinn distinguished himself by returning fumbles for touchdowns on consecutive defensive plays—becoming the first player in NFL history to score two defensive touchdowns in back-to-back plays. His outstanding debut season earned him a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team and a second-place finish to Chase Young for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

After moving back to strong safety, he backed up his rookie performance with another high-volume campaign in 2021. Chinn recorded 107 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and an interception in 16 starts, becoming just the third player in Panthers history to post back-to-back 100-tackle seasons to open a career.

Injuries and defensive scheme adjustments disrupted his final two seasons in Charlotte. A hamstring injury limited him to 11 games in 2022, while a quadriceps issue sidelined him for six games in 2023 as his snaps shifted to a reduced role in Ejiro Evero’s 3-4 system.

Following the 2023 season, Chinn hit free agency and signed a deal with the Washington Commanders for the 2024 campaign. As a Panther, he accumulated 324 total tackles (202 solo), 4.0 sacks, two interceptions, 17 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.