Will Grier, a well-traveled backup quarterback, has officially stepped away from professional football. The Carolina Panthers announced his retirement Wednesday, placing the 31-year-old on their reserve/retired list.
Grier had most recently rejoined Carolina on April 21, just weeks after being let go by the Dallas Cowboys on March 12 following parts of two seasons in Dallas. It was a full-circle moment — Carolina was the franchise that originally drafted him.
The Panthers selected Grier in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He came to the league after playing college ball at West Virginia for two seasons (2017-18), having previously spent two years at Florida (2014-15).
His only regular-season action came during that 2019 campaign with Carolina. In two starts, he completed 28 of 52 passes — a 53.8% completion rate — for 228 yards, while throwing four interceptions. That remains the only year he appeared in either a regular-season or playoff game throughout his professional career.
After his initial stint with the Panthers, Grier spent time with the Cowboys from 2021 through 2023. He also had brief stints with the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, and Los Angeles Chargers — all in 2023 — before joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024.
Carolina’s quarterback room now consists of starter Bryce Young, veteran Kenny Pickett, and undrafted rookie Haynes King out of Georgia Tech.
