The Carolina Panthers entered the NFL in 1995 and immediately set a record for the most successful inaugural season by an expansion team with a 7-9 record. In just their second year, they achieved a remarkable 12-4 record, won the NFC West division, and advanced to the NFC Championship Game. Throughout the late 1990s, the franchise established a strong identity led by stars like Sam Mills and Kerry Collins, proving to be a competitive and rapidly ascending force in the league.