Former Carolina Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn has been named this week’s Legend of the Game. Munnerlyn, who is now in his first season as head coach at Julius Chambers High School, will return to Bank of America Stadium to take part in the team’s tradition of hitting the Keep Pounding drum before the fourth quarter.
Munnerlyn was drafted by the Panthers in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft and went on to play ten seasons in the league. Despite being born three months premature and facing challenges throughout his life, he built a reputation as one of the top slot cornerbacks. After starting his career with four seasons in Carolina, he played for Minnesota before returning to finish his career with two more seasons with the Panthers in 2017 and 2018.
Reflecting on his return, Munnerlyn said: “Yes, sir. I’ll be around for the game and hopefully those guys can keep that winning streak going.”
He commented on watching the current team win three straight games: “Man, it’s been fantastic, just to see the guys go out there and compete and playing at a very high level, and also just not competing but winning the games. We’ve been in every single game these last couple of weeks, and to see the guys that go on the road. I know we’re undefeated at home, but see the guys go on the road and get a win, and in New York was great, man, just to bring the city back.
“I tell you what, when you win around here, man, the whole city is on fire, so it’s definitely a great thing to see those guys winning games and getting above 500.”
When asked about excitement among fans during this streak, Munnerlyn added: “Oh yeah, for sure, oh for sure. Even some of the guys over here at the high school come in, and they talk about it. It’s like, man, you seen the Panthers last night? And I was like, yeah. And it gives me a little bragging rights, because some of my coaches on my staff, they’re Cowboy fans and things like that, so I let them know we beat them.
“But the whole city, man, it’s just like the whole city when the Panthers win. It’s unmatched, especially when you can go out there and compete and be in games and win them. Man, this is unmatched.”
Comparing this year’s team with his experience from 2013—when Carolina rebounded from a slow start to finish 12-4—Munnerlyn said: “If you remember we started the year off…we made a run…So it got a lot of similarity to that team…The run defense is stout right now for the Panthers…Derrick Brown and all those guys up front are doing an amazing job…Jaycee Horn’s coming down with it…They’ve got all tools…Dave Canales and Dan Morgan put a great team together…”
Discussing when he realized their 2013 squad was special: “We went to Minnesota…and I remember Jordan Gross saying some things pregame…All of us said we know this was a good football team…after that things just changed for us…”
Munnerlyn also spoke about his coaching role at Chambers High School: “Oh man, it’s been fun. It’s been fun just to pour into these kids over here…As of right now we’re in playoffs…I’m excited about this…” The school missed playoffs last year but is positioned for postseason play under Munnerlyn’s leadership.
After spending time as an intern with Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott’s staff last summer through an NFL program designed for aspiring minority coaches (the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship), Munnerlyn decided high school coaching suited him best: “I’m definitely enjoying it…At first I didn’t think about it….Now I’m coaching; I’m a head coach three years later…”
On being selected Legend of The Game—and participating in pregame festivities—he said: “Oh man it’s going to be exciting….When they called me…I couldn’t believe it….That let me know I did it right way….So whoever thought this 5-9 kid from Mobile Ala., to have 10 years in NFL…that’s wild situation…”
