Luke Combs 'ready to suit up' for Carolina Panthers, help struggling defense

The Carolina Panthers (4-12) statistically own the NFL‘s worst defense. Is the answer signing a North Carolina native out of Appalachian State?

Of course, we’re talking about Luke Combs, the two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year award winner. Combs may not have much playing experience beyond A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville, but perhaps he’d look good next to Derrick Brown on Carolina’s defensive line next season.

I’m ready to suit up @Panthers https://t.co/tozolFvXEg

— Luke Combs 🎤 (@lukecombs) December 31, 2024

“I’m ready to suit up @Panthers,” Combs wrote Tuesday on X.

Luke Combs is very vocal about his Panthers fandom

The 34-year-old Combs is a massive Panthers fan — a tormented one at that recently. He’s never been one to shy away from giving his take on Carolina’s struggles over the years, calling out the team earlier this year over his disapproval with the trade package for edge rusher Brian Burns, dealt to the New York Giants this past offseason.

“.@Panthers WHAT ARE WE DOING?!?!? No first round pick for [Christian] McCaffrey a few years back and now none for Burns?!?! Are we just fire bombing the whole team here or what? I usually don’t comment on these kinds of things but it’s just becoming slow torture at this point,” Combs tweeted this past March.

And after Carolina’s 47-10 defeat in Week 1 to the New Orleans Saints, Combs was beside himself.

“New year, same old @Panthers,” Combs wrote. “Absolutely gruesome watch.”

The Panthers have at least shown some signs of coming around offensively in the second half of the season, with Bryce Young starting to look like the player Carolina selected No. 1 overall last season. But defensively, issues remain. No team has surrendered more points than the Panthers this season (496), one year removed from having the league’s No. 4 ranked defense.

Things must improve on that side of the ball if the Panthers are going to turn things around under first-year head coach Dave Canales.