Carolina Panthers plan to wear black helmets for Week 1 against Chicago Bears

The Carolina Panthers announced plans to debut their black helmets for the upcoming 2026 regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears. This marks the first time the franchise has used the black helmets for a Week 1 game since the team's inception in 2022. The helmets will be paired with blue jerseys for the matchup, which is the first of three scheduled appearances for that jersey combination this season. Additional games featuring the blue jerseys are set for Week 7 and Week 14. While the helmet and jersey selections are confirmed, the team has not yet finalized the pants and socks for the Sunday game. Personnel expect to finalize the complete uniform details for the contest against Chicago later this week.

• 3:38 PMYahoo Sports — Panthers tease fan-favorite look for 2026 regular-season opener vs. Bears