First Prospective Panthers Buyer Emerges

The Panthers are the only NFL team up for sale, and the club may have its first serious bidder. South Carolina businessman Ben Navarro is “actively” exploring a potential purchase of the Carolina franchise, according to Jourdan Rodrigue and Katherine Peralta of the Charlotte Observer.Panthers Helmet (Featured)

Incumbent owner Jerry Richardson put the Panthers on the market earlier this year following allegations that he not only sexually harassed female employees, but used a racial slur against a team scout. Richardson ceded day-to-day control of the club in December, but he remains under NFL investigation. Carolina, of course, is also without a long-term general manager, as interim GM Marty Hurney is dealing with his own off-field issues.

Navarro, for his part, formerly worked at Citigroup, but now runs a debt collection firm in Charleston, per the Observer scribes. Naarro’s father, Frank, has ties to the football realm, as he served as head coach at four colleges — Williams, Columbia, Walsh, and Princeton — from 1963-84.

While the price to acquire the Panthers is unknown, the last NFL team to be sold — the Bills — went for more than $1 billion. Per NFL rules, Navarro would need to be able to purchase at least 30% of the Panthers up front.

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