Jan 17, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) scores on a 1 yard touchdown carry over Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) and Brock Coyle (52) during the second quarter in a NFC Divisional round playoff game at Bank of America Stadium. Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Carolina Panthers signed running back Jonathan Stewart on Friday to a one-year contract extension through the 2018 season.
Stewart, who turned 30 on Tuesday, was set to count $8.5 million against the salary cap in 2017, but the new deal reportedly will spread the money out to save cap space.
“It means a lot. This is a special place,” Stewart said Friday. “The fans and the organization, they’ve always been good to me. We’re all here to win the ultimate prize. I’m just glad to be here.
“I’m not satisfied by any means. Last year was disappointing. We just have to get back to the mindset of winning, and it’s really about the little things.”
Stewart has spent his entire nine-year NFL career with Carolina since being selected out of Oregon with the 13th overall pick in the 2008 draft.
Stewart ranks first in team history with 1,501 rushing attempts and stands second with 6,638 yards, a 4.42-yard average and 14 games with 100 or more rushing yards. His 45 rushing touchdowns and 51 total TDs (45 rushing, six receiving) rank third in franchise history.
Stewart started 13 games last season and led the Panthers with 824 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 218 carries. In 2015, he earned a Pro Bowl selection after leading Carolina with 989 rushing yards with six touchdowns on a career-high 242 carries and helping the team set franchise records with an NFL-leading 500 points scored and 59 TDs while ranking second in the league with 142.6 rushing yards per game.
In the past two seasons, Stewart’s 15 rushing touchdowns are tied for eighth in the NFL and his 1,813 rushing yards rank 12th.
In 2009, Stewart was part of NFL history when he rushed for 1,133 yards, pairing with running back DeAngelo Williams, who totaled 1,117 yards, to become the first set of teammates in NFL history to each rush for more than 1,100 yards in the same season.
