He’s baaaaaaaack.

Nine-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers has agreed to terms on a reported one-year, $5m ($2.5m guaranteed) deal to return for his 17th overall season and tenth with the Carolina team that drafted him second overall in the 2002 draft; after mulling retirement for the past few months, Peppers has decided to come back for his second consecutive season with Carolina, following a season in which he shared the team lead in sacks with eleven and moved into fourth all-time on the NFL leaders list.

Peppers, who is 38 years old, had surgery on his shoulder last month after playing all 16 games last season in a four-man rotation with Mario Addison, Charles Johnson and Wes Horton; with Johnson being released earlier in the offseason and Peppers only signed for another one-year deal, expect the Panthers to seek out a defensive end in the draft to try and get younger across their defensive line. Daeshon Hall, who spent last year on injured reserve, and Bryan Cox, Jr., who received playing time while Johnson was suspended at the tail end of the 2017 season, are also expected to compete for snaps in 2018.

The most decorated Panthers player in the history of the franchise returns for another year to try and add to the eye-popping statistics that already sprinkle across his page in the media guide:

  • Most sacks of any active NFL Player, fourth all-time (154.5)
  • Most fumble recoveries among active NFL players (20)
  • Most blocked kicks among active NFL players (13)
  • Franchise leader in sacks, forced fumbles, and blocked field goals
  • Only player in NFL history with at least 150 sacks and 10 interceptions

“I want to just have some time to reflect and think about everything that’s going on, spend some time with my kids,” Peppers said after the Panthers’ playoff loss in New Orleans. “See where my heart takes me.”

His heart led him right back to the Panthers.

Josh Klein on Twitter
Josh Klein
Editor-In-Chief at The Riot Report
Josh Klein is Editor-In-Chief of The Riot Report. His favorite Panther of all time is Chad Cota and he once AIM chatted with Kevin Greene. Follow Josh on Twitter @joshkleinrules.