David Tepper (Photo via @WBTV_News Twitter)
New video footage shows Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper visiting a Charlotte restaurant, Dilworth Neighborhood Grille, that found a clever way to troll him with a sign outside.

David Tepper has quickly developed a reputation as a “hands-on” owner who influences decisions by the front office and coaches. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported in November that Tepper pushed for the Panthers to take Bryce Young first overall last year without any pushback from team staffers.

Yesterday, the Charlotte-based restaurant took a shot at Tepper ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft by putting out a sign that read “PLEASE LET THE COACH & GM PICK THIS YEAR”.

To make the matter awkward, Tepper himself paid a visit to the restaurant on Thursday. The restaurant’s owner, Matt Wohlfarth, shared surveillance footage of Tepper entering the venue to WBTV News:

It’s difficult to make out what Tepper is saying to the restaurant manager in the video. Per WBTV News, the manager said that Tepper was friendly during the conversation:

“The footage shows Tepper walk in and ask who was responsible for the sign. Wohlfarth, who was not there at the time, was the mastermind behind the sign.

In the video, Tepper talks to the manager and takes his hat off. Wohlfarth said it was because it was an Eagles hat. Tepper can be seen laughing in the video and the manager said he was pleasant about the whole situation.

Wohlfarth said Tepper was on his way to watch the draft when he saw the sign, although it has been up all week.”

The Panthers didn’t initially have a first-round pick this year, as they gave up their 2024 selection to the Chicago Bears in the move for Young. The Bears wound up using the No. 1 selection on USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

Carolina wound up obtaining the No. 32 pick from the Buffalo Bills, using that selection on South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette.

David Tepper Needs To Let His Employees Do Their Thing

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and disgraced former Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder are prime examples of how bad it goes when the upper person tries to influence team decisions.

Tepper’s tenure as Carolina’s owner has been a disaster thus far. He’s already on his seventh head coach (including interims) in Dave Canales. The team has gone a pathetic 31-68-0 since Tepper took over as owner.

So if these aren’t indicators that Tepper needs to lay off and let his employees do it their way, then the Panthers will remain one of football’s worst teams for years to come. Pure and simple.