On Friday night, the Carolina Panthers grabbed the University of Tennessee wide receiver with the 83rd overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. But this won't be the first time Brazzell will represent the team.

Soon after Brazzell had his name called, a photo he posted to Twitter/X back in 2021 resurfaced. The picture shows Brazzell, while side-by-side with his mother, sporting a Panthers jacket.

He was asked about the jacket when talking with local reporters following his selection.

"I'm a longtime Panther fan. I've been a Panther fan since third grade," Brazzell replied. "So, it's a dream come true."

Brazzell, a Fort Worth, Texas native, then revealed that his fandom began in youth football—when he played for a team called the Greenwood Panthers

"I wore a jersey that had Panthers on it," he explained. "Back in the day, Cam Newton was the quarterback. Y'all had Luke Kuechly, y'all had Steve Smith, Josh Norman, y'all was going to the Super Bowl. I played quarterback at the time. Cam Newton, Odell Beckham—they my favorite players of all-time.

"So I kinda had to roll with it. Blue's my favorite color, so I really just rolled with the Panthers and I never looked back."

Hopefully for the Panthers, Brazzell will use his 6-foot-4 frame and blazing speed to look back at defenders. The longtime Carolina fan averaged 15.2 yards per reception in college, and could potentially provide the offense with a much-needed spark for 2026 and beyond.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: WR Chris Brazzell reveals he's a longtime Panthers fan