Will Grier retires from the NFL
Will Grier ended his NFL playing career on July 15, 2026, when the Carolina Panthers placed the 31-year-old quarterback on the reserve/retired list three months after his return to the franchise.
Carolina selected Grier in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He signed a one-year contract in April 2026 but retired before the Panthers opened training camp the following week.
Will Grier leaves three Carolina quarterbacks
Grier’s retirement reduced Carolina’s quarterback group to three players before training camp. Bryce Young remains the starter, Kenny Pickett is the veteran backup, and Haynes King is the undrafted rookie.
Carolina added Grier in April to provide depth behind Young and Pickett. His reserve/retired designation removed him from the active roster before the Panthers opened their scheduled 2026 training camp.
Will Grier became the 100th overall pick
Carolina selected Grier with the 100th overall pick in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He entered the league after completing college stops at Florida and West Virginia.
The Panthers opened that season with Cam Newton as their established starter and Kyle Allen among the reserves. Grier remained inactive until making two starts during the final weeks of 2019.
Will Grier posted major West Virginia totals
Grier passed for 7,354 yards and 71 touchdowns across his two West Virginia seasons in 2017 and 2018. Those totals ranked third and second, respectively, on the school’s career charts when he departed.
His 2018 season produced 3,864 passing yards and 37 touchdowns in 11 starts. Grier also became a Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist and earned All-Big 12 recognition before entering the NFL Draft.
Will Grier began college at Florida
Grier played six games for Florida in 2015, completing 106 of 161 passes for 1,204 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions before transferring to West Virginia for his final two seasons.
NCAA transfer rules kept him out in 2016, but he started 11 games for West Virginia in 2017. He earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors after his first Mountaineers season.
Will Grier made two NFL starts
Grier’s entire NFL regular-season record came in two starts for Carolina during 2019. He completed 28 of 52 passes for 228 yards, with no touchdown passes and four interceptions across those appearances.
He also gained 22 rushing yards on seven attempts, producing a 3.1-yard average. His 53.8% completion rate and 33.2 passer rating completed a brief regular-season statistical record across two Carolina starts.
Will Grier debuted against Indianapolis
Carolina prepared Grier for his first NFL start against Indianapolis on December 22, 2019. Interim head coach Perry Fewell gave the rookie first-team practice work during the week leading up to the game.
Kyle Allen had started 12 games in place of Cam Newton before Carolina made the change. Grier’s first regular-season action came after the Panthers had been eliminated from playoff contention.
Will Grier joined five teams after Carolina
After leaving Carolina, Grier joined the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, and Philadelphia Eagles. He later returned to Dallas before rejoining the Panthers in April 2026.
Most stops involved practice-squad or reserve roles rather than regular-season appearances. Grier never played another NFL regular-season game after completing his two rookie starts with Carolina during the 2019 season.
Will Grier delivered four preseason scores
Grier delivered his strongest documented NFL preseason performance for Dallas on August 26, 2023, against Las Vegas. He completed 29 of 35 passes for 305 yards and two passing touchdowns.
He also gained 53 rushing yards and added two rushing touchdowns as the Cowboys won 31-16. Dallas had traded for Trey Lance one day earlier and released Grier during final roster cuts.
Will Grier’s exit increases King’s workload
King is likely to receive additional preseason work after Grier’s departure because starters typically miss the Hall of Fame Game. That setup creates an early evaluation opportunity for the undrafted rookie.
Carolina is scheduled to face Arizona on August 6 at 8 p.m. ET in Canton, Ohio. The matchup at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium officially opens the NFL’s 107th season.
Bryce Young remains Carolina’s starter
Young remains central to Carolina’s quarterback plans after the Panthers exercised his fifth-year option on April 29, 2026. The move keeps the 2023 top pick under contract through the 2027 season.
The option guarantees Young $29.5 million in 2027. He set career highs during 2025 with a 63.6% completion rate, 3,011 passing yards, and 23 touchdown passes while leading Carolina to the NFC South title.
Haynes King brings record college production
Haynes King set a Georgia Tech single-season record with 3,920 total yards in 2025. That figure included 2,967 passing yards and 953 rushing yards across 12 games for the Yellow Jackets.
He completed a school-record 252 passes and accounted for 29 touchdowns during his final college season. His 3,920 total yards ranked third nationally at 325.3 per game among Football Bowl Subdivision players.
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Will Grier closes career with local ties
Grier grew up in Davidson, North Carolina, and played at Davidson Day School before college. His April 2026 agreement brought him back to the franchise that began his professional career.
His NFL record included a third-round selection, two regular-season starts, and time with six organizations. The reserve/retired move ended a seven-season career spent largely in backup and practice-squad roles across the league.
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Will Grier’s career included limited game action but several memorable stops. Was retirement the right move for the former Carolina Panthers quarterback? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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