The Carolina Panthers have re-signed defensive end Julius Peppers to a one-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.
Peppers will be entering his 17th season in the NFL and 10th season with the Panthers. Last year, he returned to Carolina from Green Bay and tied for the team lead with 11 sacks to go with two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
A native of North Carolina, Peppers began his career with the Panthers, playing eight seasons (2002-09) with the team after being selected with the No. 2 overall draft choice of the 2002 NFL Draft out of the University of North Carolina. He played four seasons (2010-13) with the Chicago Bears and three seasons (2014-16) with the Green Bay Packers.
Peppers has played in 250 career games, tied for seventh-most of any defensive player in NFL history. His active games played streak of 160 straight games currently ranks second-longest of any defensive player. He has made the Pro Bowl nine times, AP All-Pro First Team three times and was named to the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000s.
This past season, Peppers moved into fourth place in NFL history with 154.5 career sacks, the most of any active player. He now needs just six sacks to pass Kevin Greene and move into third place all-time. Peppers is the only player in NFL history with 150 sacks and 10 or more interceptions. He also leads all active players with 20 career fumble recoveries and ranks second in forced fumbles (49) in the NFL since 2002. His 11 career interceptions rank second all-time for defensive ends. He is one of just four players in NFL history with 10 seasons of double-digit sacks.
Peppers continues to cement his spot at the top of the Panthers record book. He is the franchise leader in sacks (92.0), forced fumbles (31), blocked field goals (8) and ranks second all-time in fumble recoveries (9) and third in defensive touchdowns (3). He has made five Pro Bowl appearances as a Panther, tied for the most in franchise history.