The flip of a coin

History Published on : 1/1/2005

The Carolina Panthers joined the National Football League in 1995 at the same time as the Jacksonville Jaguars.  A coin was flipped prior to the 1995 NFL Draft to see which expansion team would have the first overall selection that year. The coin that was flipped that day can be seen in the Hall's Pro Football Today Gallery.

The Panthers won the flip and were awarded the first selection in the draft but subsequently traded the pick to the Cincinnati Bengals.  The Bengals chose Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter.  The Panthers then used the Bengals' fifth overall pick to select Carter's Penn State teammate, quarterback Kerry Collins.