Shaq Thompson Prepared To Step Up As Vocal Leader

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Since being drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2015, linebacker Shaq Thompson has had a lot of patience as he sat in the shadows of Pro Bowl linebackers Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly.

With Davis leaving town before last season, Thompson finally broke out with a career-high 109 total and 75 solo tackles in 2019, and the Panthers rewarded him with a four-year, $54 million contract in December.

In January, the face of Carolina's defense for the last nine years and the guy that took Thompson under his wing, Luke Kuechly, unexpectedly announced his retirement, leaving Thompson as the most experienced linebacker on the roster. 

"One of my brothers retired last year and I know he would want me to just go out there and be a leader," Thompson said during a Zoom press conference on Sunday. "That’s what I’m going to do for him, myself and this team that we have.”

Thompson has never been known as a very vocal leader in the locker room and he's been looked at as more of a reserved and quiet player since entering the league.

Since Kuechly's retirement, Thompson's leadership had become more noticeable off the field as he was seen leading protests with fellow teammates in June to stop racial injustice and police brutality after the death of George Floyd.

With a Panthers roster that is full of new players and young rookies, Thompson is bringing that leadership role onto the field as well.

"It's not tough for me," Thompson said. "I knew my place and who my leaders were with Luke and TD on defense but now they're gone and I know they'd tell me to step up and be vocal. I think each position has their leaders."

His play has already spoken for itself.

“I think Shaq is one of those guys that come from Year 1 to Year 4 that improved every year," defensive tackle Kawann Short said. "Now he has put himself in one of those positions to be one of those dominant linebackers right now.”

Thompson said he doesn't think about himself, though, and he's just focused on the team. 

“Just try to help this organization win games. That’s what I’m focused on,” Thompson said. “I’m not really focused on myself. I’m a team player and that’s what I’m focused on. My stats are just gonna play how they play. But I’m all about this team.”

The Panthers brought in veteran linebacker Tahir Whitehead to fill in the middle with Kuechly no longer around and Thompson has already made sure to build that relationship. 

"The chemistry was built right when I found out we picked him up," Thompson said. "It just popped off right off the back. We know that the relationship has to happen quick and we know that we can do that and that we're the leaders and the older vets in the linebackers room." 

In a year that will have limitations due to COVID-19, Thompson will make sure that the young players know it's just the game they grew up loving to play. 

“Having a young team, I just think it’s a lot of inexperience, but at the end of the day, it’s just football,” Thompson said. “They’ve got to know and we’ve got to teach them that the game’s going to move fast, but [we’ve got to] just settle them down. Man, it’s just football. You’ve been playing football your whole life. Just go out there, play your game, play your technique and your assignment in the defense and you’ll be alright.”

That leadership also comes when trying to be smart and professional about staying safe with COVID-19. 

“Right now if you want to play, you’ve got to be smart and just think about other people instead of yourself," Thompson added. "You’ve just gotta be smart about that, especially the young and single guys who want to go have fun. Stuff has to wait ‘til next year, wait ‘til we figure out COVID."