Bryce Young - Quarterback, panthers Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-09 | Full transcript (primary source).
On September 9, 2026, Bryce Young addressed the media during a press conference as the Carolina Panthers prepared for their season opener. The event focused on the team's readiness for the upcoming game and Young's perspective on recent developments within the league.
Transcript
Reporter: Do you have any other questions about this?
Young: Yeah, I mean, you maybe get a little bit, feel like you can get a better feel and engage in the film. But also we understand we're all new teams after each year. So, you know, they have some new guys as well. You know, we have a ton of respect for them as a defense, as a unit, coaching staff. I mean, you know, the, you know, good teams, they play their personnel and, you know, every team kind of takes their own identity. So, you know, you look in the past and you're able to see some structure things, but also, you know, you're going to get some curve balls. First game of the year, there's going to be stuff that they're holding on to that we're going to have to react to. So, we're excited for the challenge. Again, it's a really, really good unit over there. So, yeah, we're excited for it.
Reporter: Bryce, Baker gets extended yesterday. Pretty significant contract. Nobody, no quarterbacks from your class yet have. But how are you handling that, you know, going into this year so far without an extension?
Young: Yeah, well, I'm super happy for him. You know, I have a lot of respect for him, so super happy for him. But, you know, for me, it's just about football. You know, all that stuff happens. It's outside my control. All that stuff is, you know, other people and upstairs and agents, all that. You know, it's season time. We're going into week one. That's all that matters. There's no need to, you know, be, you know, we have all the inspiration. You know, there's a great challenge ahead of us and our first opponent. So, that's all that I have the capacity to be focused on.
Reporter: Bryce, season openers haven't gone well for you in the last three years. Are you doing anything different? Have you learned anything from those past season openers that might help you with this?
Young: Yeah, I mean, for us, it's every, again, every year is a new year. We want to have an emphasis of starting fast. You know, we've talked about that a lot as a team, as a unit, as an organization. But we know that that comes with work. You know, it's about just having the best week we can possible. You know, going into the game with as much clear communication and being on the same page as we can. So, we're excited for that challenge again. We just want to go one and oh. Every week, coach talks about it. It's the most important game of the season because the next one, that's always his mantra. Again, we have a ton of respect for the Bears, for them coming in. And for us, we have a lot of pride in being able to, you know, open up at home. So, excited for the challenge.
Reporter: You're a pretty even-tempered guy, but how are you feeling right now, heading into week one? Are you excited? What mental space are you in right now?
Young: Yeah, definitely excited. You know, this is, you miss it so much during the off-season. And it's such a blessing just to be able to have the circumstances. BOR and Matt, you know, play this position, you know, in this league. I don't take that for granted at all. So, I'm definitely very excited. And then, you know, you have to obviously, you know, as a leader and as a cue, just you have to be whatever the team needs you to be on a day-to-day basis. I felt like today was a good day, it was a good start. There's still a long week, still a lot of building blocks you have to put in place. So, you know, I'm all into that, making sure we can give ourselves the best chance on Sundays. But, of course, it's always exciting when this time comes back around.
Reporter: I'm guessing I know the answer to this, but, you know, heading into a pivotal year, do you feel any added pressure?
Young: No. For me, it's, you know, external stuff and, you know, that stuff that's out of my control. You know, I always play for the people in this building. We all rely on each other. We all just want to be the best version of ourselves, have success, you know, take it one day at a time and win each day. So, you know, I'm not too big of a big-picture thinker outside of that.
Reporter: Bryce, we got a pretty interesting look at you and your life through your dad's book, Growing Up Young. What have your thoughts, I guess, and reactions been about that? And what do you hope maybe people can take away from your mindset and your attitude through reading or listening to that story?
Young: Yeah, well, I'm first off super proud of my pops. He's worked really, really hard on that for a really long time. So, you know, it's been cool to watch him go through that process, to see the reception. You know, I'm just, I'm super, super happy for him. And, you know, I think that, you know, for him just being able to share our journey and, you know, share our process. And I know for him, whatever, hopefully he can be able to maybe help other people in similar positions as he was, hopefully, you know, help people and just give a look into, like, the process that I had growing up. But, yeah, more so than anything, just super, super proud of my pops. And it's, yeah, I'm happy for him.
Reporter: More of a glimpse of who you are, so maybe the outside, though, that people don't really get to instantly see. Do you feel like it shows you in that kind of light?
Young: Yeah, yeah, I'd say so. Again, obviously a lot of childhood stuff, a lot of stuff that, yeah, you know, it's, yeah, stuff that I don't really get into in here. So, yeah, yeah, it's cool for something like that to be out. And, yeah, just happy for my pops.
Reporter: How much harder has had the slow starts, both to the beginning of the season and in a lot of games, made it on you guys offensively and as a team to come back in the season and to come back in those games?
Young: Yeah, well, it's a tough week. You know, across the league, you know, if you're not trying to, you know, if you're not taking advantage of every snap, of every opportunity, every corner, whatever it may be, you know, it's hard to dig out of deficits at times. So, you know, obviously that's not something we ever want to do. But also we understand that, you know, it's, we hope so, but it's tough if everything just goes perfectly from play one to last play for, you know, however many games we get. We understand it's a diversity league. So, again, it's not something you ever want to be accustomed to. We've taken that challenge. And, you know, we want to make sure we have goals. But also, you know, we want to make sure we react. You know, that's part of something that's a good aiming point for us. But football is football. And that's part of it. And however, you know, things are, we can't, you know, we can't tuck our tail if things don't go our way in any aspect, start, middle, finish, anything like that. So, you know, that's part of the game. And I'm excited for our journey.
Reporter: Guys, Kanellis has talked a lot this offseason about your pre-snap operation. Are there specific things you identified that you feel like you've made strides in or you're better at now than you were a year ago this time?
Young: Yeah, just having more urgency. But we've talked about some of, whether it be motion timing, just getting lined up a little quicker. You know, when we're sending motions, being able to diagnose things a little quicker and, you know, have confidence in that. And, you know, go with my instinct. When we do have alerts and checks, being able to get in and out of those quicker, concise communication, verbally, all that stuff, that's stuff that kind of coach challenged me with and us with as offense. And I think that's brought the best out of us, out of me. Obviously, now it's time for that to translate, you know, to Sundays, which is the next step. But I think everyone's done a great job of adjusting to that, you know, accepting that challenge. And, yeah, now we have to maintain it.
Reporter: Bryce, I know you're not one to look to the past, but did you ever catch yourself this offseason, sort of, in that environment, the back of America Stadium and the playoff game, and sort of, like, how much do you think about that and what that stadium sort of became in that game environment?
Young: Yeah, I mean, of course, you, especially in the offseason, you miss, you know, you miss the sport, you miss the game. And obviously, that was the last memory of football for so long. And, you know, it's just the support, the atmosphere, the bank is going something special. And, you know, we're super grateful for the community, for the fans, for the Carolinas showing up and making it that way. And, you know, we know that's what they bring to a game. For all of us, you know, making it harder on the opponents. So, you know, we're excited for that again, you know, this weekend.
Reporter: I know we've asked other players this, but I don't know if we ever asked you this. Do you put down individual goals, like, even if you keep them yourself, for, you know, before a season? And if you want to share those again. But I mean, I'm just curious if you do or don't.
Young: Yeah, I don't. You know, I'm not a long-term goal guy. I'm not a, you know, for me, I put individual goals for a practice. Or, you know, I'll have certain things that I'll come into a meeting with, and I want to make sure I get this ironed out. But big picture-wise, just never been my approach, personally. I've always been just, what's tangible? What can I, I know I can get done in the here and now. And that's kind of just always been how my focus is.
Reporter: Can I ask any emphasize?
Young: Please.
Reporter: Do you emphasize trying to get off to a fast start by, like, taking care of that at practice, like, being ready right when you get out there? Have you noticed a difference with everybody?
Young: Yeah, yeah, for sure. You know, Coach has done a great job. He's kind of switched the structure of practice a little bit to, you know, to, you know, back that up and to try to, you know, encourage that. And, you know, obviously, he always sees things from a 30,000-foot view, so he knows what he's doing. We trust that. But also, for us, you know, we have to make sure we're taking that challenge that, you know, even if we warm up for an hour straight, that has to be intense, you know. If we, whatever it is, if it's, you know, we just have to have that mentality. And Coach has done a great job of instilling that in different ways. And, again, now it's on us to accept that challenge. All the guys are up for it. They're doing a great job. So, you know, we're excited for an opportunity to let it play out.
Young: I appreciate you guys.
