A friendly but fierce rivalry is starting to take shape within the Carolina Panthers — one that could help elevate the team’s performance in the coming season and beyond.
For the first time in a while, the Panthers have a spirited back-and-forth brewing between a franchise quarterback and a lockdown cornerback.
Bryce Young and Jaycee Horn have been pushing each other throughout offseason workouts, and that competitive energy was on full display during the opening day of mandatory minicamp.
There’s been plenty of trash talk, intense competition, and a strong sense of mutual respect. While it hasn’t yet reached the fiery levels of the past Cam Newton–Josh Norman battles, the dynamic between Young and Horn is clearly energizing both players and creating a buzz that others on the team can feed off as the summer wears on.
Head coach Dave Canales addressed the budding rivalry after practice, pointing to Young’s increasing confidence and mental toughness as key drivers of his spirited exchanges with Horn.
He added that both players seem to be thriving under the pressure, using the rivalry to sharpen their skills ahead of the 2025 season.
“Honestly, it gets really animated. He [Bryce Young] just has that defiance to him. That’s just his way of competing, you know. He’s not super animated with it, but he definitely thrives off of that, feeds off of that energy, and he takes his chances when he can because Jaycee’s trying to bait him into throwing the ball over there.”
Jaycee Horn has noticed a clear shift in Bryce Young this offseason. The quarterback’s growing confidence and comfort as he heads into his third year have sparked a fire — one that Horn is embracing wholeheartedly. The added edge from Young is pushing Horn to elevate his own game, and he’s more than ready for the challenge.
It’s a classic case of iron sharpening iron. Their daily battles are not just raising their individual levels but setting the tone for the entire team.
This kind of healthy competition is contagious — it motivates others, increases intensity in training, and adds a much-needed sense of urgency to the Panthers’ preparations.
Both Young and Horn are former first-round picks with high ceilings and are viewed as foundational pieces for the franchise. Their development and leadership will be critical to any success Carolina hopes to achieve in the near future.
As long as their rivalry stays respectful, it’s nothing but a positive force. And even if tensions flare now and then, that’s all part of the process.
Ultimately, this is about the Panthers getting better. Young and Horn are leading by example with a competitive spirit and a drive that’s impossible to ignore. If this is the new standard in Carolina, the future looks bright.
