Will Grier Says Goodbye to Football: A Simple Story About the Panthers

The Big News: Will Grier Is Retiring

In the city of Charlotte, a football player named Will Grier came back to play for his hometown team, the Carolina Panthers, just three months ago. But his plan to keep playing has stopped. He has decided to retire, which means he is choosing to stop playing football.

On Wednesday, the Panthers put him on a special list called the reserve/retired list. Think of this as a team saying, "This player is taking a break from playing, so we’ll keep his spot safe so he can’t go play for another team."

Important Point! Will Grier’s comeback is over before the big summer practice called training camp even starts.

Who Is Will Grier? (A Simple Look at His Story)

Will Grier is 31 years old. He has been a football player for a while. Here are the simple facts about him:

• In 2019, the Panthers chose him as a third-round pick. That means in a big event where teams pick new players (like choosing players in turns), he was picked in the third group of choices.
• Before the draft this year, he signed a one-year deal (a short work contract) to come back to the Panthers, which is his hometown team.
• He has also played for many other teams: the Cowboys, Bengals, Patriots, Chargers, Eagles, and then the Cowboys again.
• He only played in two real games that count (called regular-season games), and both were when he was a beginner (rookie) with the Panthers in 2019.

What This Means for the Panthers’ Quarterbacks

In football, the player who usually throws the ball is called the quarterback (we can call him the "thrower"). Because Will Grier retired, the Panthers now have only three quarterbacks as they get ready for training camp (which starts next week).

Here is who is left:

• Bryce Young – the starter (the main thrower).
• Kenny Pickett – a backup (an experienced player who fills in if needed).
• Haynes King – an undrafted rookie (a first-year player who wasn’t chosen in the draft at all).

What Happens Next? (Preseason and a Special Game)

Since there are fewer throwers, the young player Haynes King will likely get a lot more reps. (Reps are just practice turns—like repeating a play over and over to learn.)

This is because of a special early game:

1. The Panthers will play in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
2. This game is on August 6 against the Cardinals.
3. The main players (starters) usually do not play in this game, so backups and rookies get to play instead.
4. This game happens right before a former Panther great, Luke Kuechly, is officially put into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (a special place that honors the best players ever).

So Haynes King will have a chance to show what he can do!

Callout: With only three quarterbacks—and one being a brand-new undrafted player—the Panthers will lean on Haynes King for extra practice and preseason play.

Summary

Will Grier, a 31-year-old quarterback who returned to his hometown Panthers three months ago, has retired and been placed on the reserve/retired list. He was originally drafted by Carolina in 2019 and had brief stints with several other teams, but only played two regular games. His retirement leaves the Panthers with three quarterbacks: Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett, and undrafted rookie Haynes King. With training camp starting next week and the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 (where starters rest and Luke Kuechly enters the Hall of Fame), Haynes King is expected to get plenty of practice time.

FAQ

1. What does it mean when a player "retires" in football?
Retiring means the player decides to stop playing the game professionally. The team can put him on a reserve/retired list, which means he is not playing but his team keeps his rights.

2. What is a quarterback, and why is it important?
The quarterback is the player who usually throws the ball to teammates and leads the team’s offense (scoring side). Teams need several quarterbacks in case the main one gets hurt or needs a break.

3. What is the Hall of Fame Game?
It’s a special preseason (practice) game played in Canton, Ohio, to celebrate players being added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame—a museum-like honor for the greatest players.

4. Why did Will Grier play only two games?
He played those two games in his first year (rookie season) with the Panthers in 2019. After that, he moved between different teams but did not get to play in more regular counting games.

5. What does "undrafted rookie" mean?
A rookie is a first-year player. "Undrafted" means he was not selected by any team during the draft (the event where teams pick new players), but he still got a chance to join the Panthers.