The Carolina Panthers all-time leading rusher, who spent a decade anchoring the backfield at Bank of America Stadium, returned home for one last contract signing as Jonathan Stewart signed a one-day contract to retire with the team where he made the #28 jersey famous as he rushed for 7,318 rushing yards and 51 touchdowns on the ground in addition to 162 receptions for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns through the air over 10 seasons.
Stewart, who spent 2018 with the New York Giants, his only time in a uniform other than black and blue, was selected 13th overall by Carolina in 2008 and split time with Deangelo Williams for six seasons – it’s next to impossible to think of Stewart without thinking of his “Double Trouble” partner; the two became the first teammates in NFL history to both top 1,100 rushing yards in the same season in 2009 when Stewart rushed for 1,133 yards, 10 touchdowns and a Pro Bowl nod while Williams racked up 1,117.
The former Oregon Duck, who retires as the franchise all-time leader in playoff rushing yards with 474 and in playoff rushing touchdowns with five, was heavily involved in the Charlotte community and a quiet, but effective, leader in the locker room for a decade.
Even as he played in New York, Stewart always planned to come back to Charlotte.
“I’ve been [in Charlotte for] 10 years, and I think that’s probably the longest I’ve ever been anywhere in my life,” Stewart told Brendan Marks last year. “Charlotte’s home for us, so we’re excited to do a lot of work in the community and raise our kids there, and live old and eat good. Especially with my wife’s cookin’.”
