September 20, 2025 • 11 mins
Celebrate 30 seasons of Carolina Panthers football with Jim Szoke. Join him as he sits down with the key figures who shaped the past 30 seasons, reminiscing on the moments that made Panther's history. This week's guest is former Panthers linebacker, Jon Beason.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Among the many great linebackers in the history of the
Carolina Panthers is John Beson. Played with Carolina from two
thousand and seven to twenty thirteen, three times a Pro
Bowl player, never made a Super Bowl with Carolina, but
helped in the run up to get there for Super.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Bowl fifty in the previous years.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
We'll talk with the former University of Miami star John Beeson.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Today Thirty seasons of Panther Football, a celebration of the players, coaches,
and other key figures who've contributed to the organizational success.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
John Beeson joining us Now, when you think about Panther linebackers,
I mean, he's right up there with the all time greats,
including the current general manager, Dan Morgan, of course, another
one of your Miami guys. And you think about obviously
Luke at TD and so many great ones. This is
you talk about linebacker us at certain colleges and so forth. John,
to have you and your last year with the Panthers
was twenty thirteen and kind of that build up of
(00:53):
the ascent as we get towards twenty fifteen in the
Super Bowl season there but first of the division titles
of three in a row came that year in twenty
thirty team, What does it mean to you in your
years playing as a Carolina Pather as you look back
at that now.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Well, I think I'm I'm I'm proud.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
You know.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
I think a lot of people when they say they
regret something, I think it's because they feel they could
have did more, something more. And from my perspective, I think,
first off, everybody I played with would tell you as
a teammate, I gave everything I had. You know, I prepared.
I wasn't iron man for four years, not missing a snap, did.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Not miss a game the first four year, didn't miss
a snap years.
Speaker 5 (01:36):
And I'll give you another stat and this was told
to me, so you know, don't put my don't hold
me to it. But I was the only player in
the NFC South for three years to not miss a
stap offense defense. So it was like, really, you know so,
but I played that way. And and when you come
into the league and you we still had two A
(01:57):
days at the time, even though it was it was
two on and one like that, you go out to
practice and you learned that there's something called VET days.
I never had a VET day, but it's the position
we are conditioned as linebackers, especially if you're a play caller.
We play one hundred percent of the snaps, you lead
one hundred percent of the practices. And from my perspective,
(02:20):
it was always about setting the tempo. Even if it
was a walk through, I still wanted to move at
a faster pace, you know. And then when it comes
down to leading, you have to do it all the time.
That's the pressure. That's why so many there's great players,
but people don't lead because they have to do it
all the time. And most people want the leader to
(02:41):
kind of be a little loose so they can relax
when they want to. So I think, looking back at it,
you know, my time here one it was a dream
come true. I'm a Panther for life and it was
a great ride.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
And that's great to hear. And we did talk with
you last year.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
We were doing podcasts and so forth, because obviously, and
there were a number of Panther players, there was a
change in the management with the general manager, and you
were kind of that era where they were showing out
some really talented veteran players and not wanting to pay
them or whatever the reasons, bringing their own players and
so forth. But for you, you continue to play great
ball after that. What has been maybe the reconciliation for
(03:18):
you to be able to come back and always be
a part of this Panther family.
Speaker 5 (03:22):
Well, I'll say this coming back is probably a small
part of it. I think the biggest part of coming
back is the familiar faces. You know, organizations are ran
by people, games are played by people, human beings, relationships.
That's where it's different. Even like now trying to keep
(03:43):
up as a fan. You don't know anybody, right, there's
no connection. Everyone's gone. So you know, now that's my
tenth year out of the league. You see the transition
and then when you see you know your former guys,
all the feelings come back, the good ones, the bad ones.
But at the end of the day, the relationships are
still there and it's just like getting back on a bike.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah. Absolutely, it was a It's a great group.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
And now we're heading into a thirty first season, so
a lot of years of Panthers football and you were
part of those early years and you were there at
the beginning of what was the Ron rivera Cam Newton
part of it. And again we mentioned by twenty thirteen,
your last season here first of the division titles. What
about that couple of years there when you had a
new coach, new quarterback and the growing time for this
franchise getting to where they would finally be in twenty fifteen.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Well, I'll say this, I think that if I'd throw
out the names of the guys on that team in thirteen,
and a lot of those guys were still on the
team at fifteen. Even if we called you know, Luke,
we called baby Boy when you really start to come
of age and Cam coming into too his own. But
a lot of those guys were here previously in twenty thirteen.
(04:50):
So the core guys, the leaders, backbone, the guys who
are the you know, the true professionals, they were here.
And I think that, you know, when you go through
that cycle of a new coach and a new GM,
you look at the roster and you say, man, you
know we can win with this guy. This is you know,
and that's to me, that was the foundation. That's what
(05:10):
kind of got them over the hump. And then you know,
you draft well and all of a sudden you know
you're you're a perennial playoff team for.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
You as as a player as you look back at
your career when the Super Bowl rolled around and your
your former teammates, and it wasn't immediate. As we says
two years later, as you're watching that Super Bowl fifty
and watching the Panthers, what's in your heart as you
watch that? Because as you says to relationships, So what
what was that feeling like for you? So?
Speaker 5 (05:38):
I think when you become you know, somewhat of a
household name in the NFL, not just locally for your
for your team, you know, all of a sudden, you
go to Super Bowl appearance and you learn that there's
a hard rule and the rule is you don't go
to a Super Bowl, to the game and to playing one.
(06:01):
So knowing that I was retiring physically couldn't do it anymore,
and that being the same year that they went to
the Super Bowl, I was able to attend the game
and sit right next to Thomas Davis's wife Kelly, and
be a Panther fan, war Panther Blue and experience it
(06:23):
from that perspective, It's like wow, Like that was a
blessing from God. As much as I wanted to be
a champion, I mean that was my sole motivation, my
purpose as a player. The reason why you drive, you
push so hard and fight through the injuries and the
tough times in the hot days is to be a champion.
And what would have happened if they hadn't made it
(06:46):
to the Super Bowl? I would eventually went to one
experience the game, and it would have been truly as
a fan, whereas I was looking at it the night
before and even during the game, like the confetti's gonna drop,
My boys are gonna win a Super Bowl, They're gonna
be champions of the world. And I have access through
(07:09):
my brother Tomas Davis, to be on the field and
experience it, you know, firsthand, and that makes me emotional still.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Yeah, I can hear it in your voice and well deserved.
And you know you're really remembered by fans here When
you say you left it all in the field, I
mean that's kind of a cliche phrase, like you embodied
that and you live there. You gave your body, and
you could have had a longer career if you hadn't
played that way. I'm going to ask a question sometimes
you know the answer to already. I assume you wouldn't
change a thing about the way you played.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
No, because That's what's required anything great, right, you want
that massive test. I want the guy across from me
or the team across from us in a super Bowl
to be considered the best team ever assembled. They can't
be beat Juggernauts, you know, and that's that's the goal,
(07:59):
you know. So getting a chance to live a dream,
to compete and chase it, I think it really drove me.
I mean I go back to my high school days.
You know, we're undefeated, eleven shoutouts out of fifteen games,
and twenty three guys getting scholarships, and we lost the
(08:19):
state championship. And I think that really really set me
on fire. And you know, sometimes being deprived of something
that's when you really strive. So I just said, I
said never again.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
You know. But it is a team game, and.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
It has to be in a deck of cards. The
best team doesn't always win, you know, So which is
the beauty of sports?
Speaker 4 (08:41):
No, Well, if you look at the box score, it
looked like the Panthers won that game. It's just a
turnovers in certain key moments.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
Watching it, I could talk about a few plays and
you know, people goes, oh, don't be a conspiracist and
all that. The flags that were thrown. And then I
teach fans this all the time. If you sit down
and watch a game with me, I'm like, that was holding, right,
(09:08):
they didn't throw it, but they're not going to talk
about that on the postgame show. The calls that were
not called in that game right at the you know,
the fringe, the fifty yard line, and it seemed like, hey,
that was passing ofference against Teddy again, Hey that was
passing afferends against today. That was okay, I get it.
(09:31):
You know, we gotta let the the goat. We gotta
got Peyton go out on top of me. Didn't throw it,
didn't throw a touchdown. I think he threw for one
hundred and forty something yards exactly right against the Stellar defense. Obviously,
the Panthers defense was just stifling. They were they were unbelievable,
and then they just had everything they needed. The offensive
(09:52):
line was older, you know, gross Khalil. And then I
mentioned Teddy gain again because you could those are was like, hey,
that's passing appearance on third down that extends to drive.
Now we're at least in field goal range. Cam breaks
a tackle or whatnot. And then the craziness with the punt.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
It's just it was tough to watch. Yeah, for everybody involved, no.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
Doubt about it, you know, but a great season, a
great season, but a great season, and uh, it just
tells you like you think you're going to go back.
And my best season in my career was my second year.
We're twelve and four, tied for the best record in
football in two thousand and eight, and we lose the
(10:35):
first playoff game here to the Cardinals.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
That was a hard game to watch too.
Speaker 5 (10:41):
Yeah, and the team we beat right here in October
or September, late September, and you're like, we'll be back
next year and then never to never play in another
playoff game.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
That's that's tough. Yeah, that's really tough.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
But overall, great years, great experiences. We love coming back
and have you guys visit with us as well. John Beson,
thank you so much, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Thirty seasons of Panther football.
Among the many great linebackers in the history of the
Carolina Panthers is John Beson. Played with Carolina from two
thousand and seven to twenty thirteen, three times a Pro
Bowl player, never made a Super Bowl with Carolina, but
helped in the run up to get there for Super.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Bowl fifty in the previous years.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
We'll talk with the former University of Miami star John Beeson.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Today Thirty seasons of Panther Football, a celebration of the players, coaches,
and other key figures who've contributed to the organizational success.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
John Beeson joining us Now, when you think about Panther linebackers,
I mean, he's right up there with the all time greats,
including the current general manager, Dan Morgan, of course, another
one of your Miami guys. And you think about obviously
Luke at TD and so many great ones. This is
you talk about linebacker us at certain colleges and so forth. John,
to have you and your last year with the Panthers
was twenty thirteen and kind of that build up of
(00:53):
the ascent as we get towards twenty fifteen in the
Super Bowl season there but first of the division titles
of three in a row came that year in twenty
thirty team, What does it mean to you in your
years playing as a Carolina Pather as you look back
at that now.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Well, I think I'm I'm I'm proud.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
You know.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
I think a lot of people when they say they
regret something, I think it's because they feel they could
have did more, something more. And from my perspective, I think,
first off, everybody I played with would tell you as
a teammate, I gave everything I had. You know, I prepared.
I wasn't iron man for four years, not missing a snap, did.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Not miss a game the first four year, didn't miss
a snap years.
Speaker 5 (01:36):
And I'll give you another stat and this was told
to me, so you know, don't put my don't hold
me to it. But I was the only player in
the NFC South for three years to not miss a
stap offense defense. So it was like, really, you know so,
but I played that way. And and when you come
into the league and you we still had two A
(01:57):
days at the time, even though it was it was
two on and one like that, you go out to
practice and you learned that there's something called VET days.
I never had a VET day, but it's the position
we are conditioned as linebackers, especially if you're a play caller.
We play one hundred percent of the snaps, you lead
one hundred percent of the practices. And from my perspective,
(02:20):
it was always about setting the tempo. Even if it
was a walk through, I still wanted to move at
a faster pace, you know. And then when it comes
down to leading, you have to do it all the time.
That's the pressure. That's why so many there's great players,
but people don't lead because they have to do it
all the time. And most people want the leader to
(02:41):
kind of be a little loose so they can relax
when they want to. So I think, looking back at it,
you know, my time here one it was a dream
come true. I'm a Panther for life and it was
a great ride.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
And that's great to hear. And we did talk with
you last year.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
We were doing podcasts and so forth, because obviously, and
there were a number of Panther players, there was a
change in the management with the general manager, and you
were kind of that era where they were showing out
some really talented veteran players and not wanting to pay
them or whatever the reasons, bringing their own players and
so forth. But for you, you continue to play great
ball after that. What has been maybe the reconciliation for
(03:18):
you to be able to come back and always be
a part of this Panther family.
Speaker 5 (03:22):
Well, I'll say this coming back is probably a small
part of it. I think the biggest part of coming
back is the familiar faces. You know, organizations are ran
by people, games are played by people, human beings, relationships.
That's where it's different. Even like now trying to keep
(03:43):
up as a fan. You don't know anybody, right, there's
no connection. Everyone's gone. So you know, now that's my
tenth year out of the league. You see the transition
and then when you see you know your former guys,
all the feelings come back, the good ones, the bad ones.
But at the end of the day, the relationships are
still there and it's just like getting back on a bike.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah. Absolutely, it was a It's a great group.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
And now we're heading into a thirty first season, so
a lot of years of Panthers football and you were
part of those early years and you were there at
the beginning of what was the Ron rivera Cam Newton
part of it. And again we mentioned by twenty thirteen,
your last season here first of the division titles. What
about that couple of years there when you had a
new coach, new quarterback and the growing time for this
franchise getting to where they would finally be in twenty fifteen.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Well, I'll say this, I think that if I'd throw
out the names of the guys on that team in thirteen,
and a lot of those guys were still on the
team at fifteen. Even if we called you know, Luke,
we called baby Boy when you really start to come
of age and Cam coming into too his own. But
a lot of those guys were here previously in twenty thirteen.
(04:50):
So the core guys, the leaders, backbone, the guys who
are the you know, the true professionals, they were here.
And I think that, you know, when you go through
that cycle of a new coach and a new GM,
you look at the roster and you say, man, you
know we can win with this guy. This is you know,
and that's to me, that was the foundation. That's what
(05:10):
kind of got them over the hump. And then you know,
you draft well and all of a sudden you know
you're you're a perennial playoff team for.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
You as as a player as you look back at
your career when the Super Bowl rolled around and your
your former teammates, and it wasn't immediate. As we says
two years later, as you're watching that Super Bowl fifty
and watching the Panthers, what's in your heart as you
watch that? Because as you says to relationships, So what
what was that feeling like for you? So?
Speaker 5 (05:38):
I think when you become you know, somewhat of a
household name in the NFL, not just locally for your
for your team, you know, all of a sudden, you
go to Super Bowl appearance and you learn that there's
a hard rule and the rule is you don't go
to a Super Bowl, to the game and to playing one.
(06:01):
So knowing that I was retiring physically couldn't do it anymore,
and that being the same year that they went to
the Super Bowl, I was able to attend the game
and sit right next to Thomas Davis's wife Kelly, and
be a Panther fan, war Panther Blue and experience it
(06:23):
from that perspective, It's like wow, Like that was a
blessing from God. As much as I wanted to be
a champion, I mean that was my sole motivation, my
purpose as a player. The reason why you drive, you
push so hard and fight through the injuries and the
tough times in the hot days is to be a champion.
And what would have happened if they hadn't made it
(06:46):
to the Super Bowl? I would eventually went to one
experience the game, and it would have been truly as
a fan, whereas I was looking at it the night
before and even during the game, like the confetti's gonna drop,
My boys are gonna win a Super Bowl, They're gonna
be champions of the world. And I have access through
(07:09):
my brother Tomas Davis, to be on the field and
experience it, you know, firsthand, and that makes me emotional still.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Yeah, I can hear it in your voice and well deserved.
And you know you're really remembered by fans here When
you say you left it all in the field, I
mean that's kind of a cliche phrase, like you embodied
that and you live there. You gave your body, and
you could have had a longer career if you hadn't
played that way. I'm going to ask a question sometimes
you know the answer to already. I assume you wouldn't
change a thing about the way you played.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
No, because That's what's required anything great, right, you want
that massive test. I want the guy across from me
or the team across from us in a super Bowl
to be considered the best team ever assembled. They can't
be beat Juggernauts, you know, and that's that's the goal,
(07:59):
you know. So getting a chance to live a dream,
to compete and chase it, I think it really drove me.
I mean I go back to my high school days.
You know, we're undefeated, eleven shoutouts out of fifteen games,
and twenty three guys getting scholarships, and we lost the
(08:19):
state championship. And I think that really really set me
on fire. And you know, sometimes being deprived of something
that's when you really strive. So I just said, I
said never again.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
You know. But it is a team game, and.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
It has to be in a deck of cards. The
best team doesn't always win, you know, So which is
the beauty of sports?
Speaker 4 (08:41):
No, Well, if you look at the box score, it
looked like the Panthers won that game. It's just a
turnovers in certain key moments.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
Watching it, I could talk about a few plays and
you know, people goes, oh, don't be a conspiracist and
all that. The flags that were thrown. And then I
teach fans this all the time. If you sit down
and watch a game with me, I'm like, that was holding, right,
(09:08):
they didn't throw it, but they're not going to talk
about that on the postgame show. The calls that were
not called in that game right at the you know,
the fringe, the fifty yard line, and it seemed like, hey,
that was passing ofference against Teddy again, Hey that was
passing afferends against today. That was okay, I get it.
(09:31):
You know, we gotta let the the goat. We gotta
got Peyton go out on top of me. Didn't throw it,
didn't throw a touchdown. I think he threw for one
hundred and forty something yards exactly right against the Stellar defense. Obviously,
the Panthers defense was just stifling. They were they were unbelievable,
and then they just had everything they needed. The offensive
(09:52):
line was older, you know, gross Khalil. And then I
mentioned Teddy gain again because you could those are was like, hey,
that's passing appearance on third down that extends to drive.
Now we're at least in field goal range. Cam breaks
a tackle or whatnot. And then the craziness with the punt.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
It's just it was tough to watch. Yeah, for everybody involved, no.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
Doubt about it, you know, but a great season, a
great season, but a great season, and uh, it just
tells you like you think you're going to go back.
And my best season in my career was my second year.
We're twelve and four, tied for the best record in
football in two thousand and eight, and we lose the
(10:35):
first playoff game here to the Cardinals.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
That was a hard game to watch too.
Speaker 5 (10:41):
Yeah, and the team we beat right here in October
or September, late September, and you're like, we'll be back
next year and then never to never play in another
playoff game.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
That's that's tough. Yeah, that's really tough.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
But overall, great years, great experiences. We love coming back
and have you guys visit with us as well. John Beson,
thank you so much, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Thirty seasons of Panther football.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal: Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a brand new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack. And make sure to check out Seasons 1-4 of Betrayal, along with Betrayal Weekly Season 1.