Charlotte PAL Panthers Score Big at Practice With Carolina Panthers Rookies

Charlotte's youngest Panthers fans got a lot closer to the real thing this month. The 11U PAL Panthers, a youth tackle football team run through the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Activities League, practiced alongside the Carolina Panthers last Monday at the Atrium Health Training Center and Bank of America Stadium, sharing a field with the pros they usually only watch on Sundays.

According to CMPD News, the department's official X account, the PAL Panthers had “an amazing time at their practice with the Carolina Panthers,” with the kids bringing their energy and the Panthers bringing inspiration to build what the department called “amazing memories.” The session was organized under the NFL's national Play Football initiative, a league-wide August program observed by all 32 teams to promote youth flag and tackle football through clinics, scrimmages and ticket donations, according to the Carolina Panthers. Local corporate sponsor CPI Security helped make the Charlotte event possible.

Our Police Activities League (PAL) youth football team, the PAL Panthers, had an amazing time at their practice with the Carolina @Panthers! 🏈💙The kids brought their energy, the Panthers brought their inspiration and together they made some amazing memories. pic.twitter.com/ZS8SN8DB9i

— CMPD News (@CMPD) August 23, 2026

A Touchdown Celebration and a Season of Tickets

The visit wasn't just a walkthrough. During a live scrimmage at the end of the session, 11U PAL running back Jamoni Young scored a touchdown along the sideline while Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan ran beside him to celebrate, the team's report notes. Head coach Dave Canales brought the youth squad onto the practice field for that scrimmage to cap off the day.

CPI Security's involvement went beyond sponsoring the practice. Per K 104.7 FM, the security company partnered with the team to provide game tickets so every player on the 11U PAL Panthers roster will attend a Carolina Panthers home game sometime during the 2026 season, a surprise announced to the kids and coaches after their scrimmage.

Police Leadership Turns Out for the Practice

The event drew more than just football staff. The same station reports the practice was attended by top regional leaders, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson, Tepper Sports & Entertainment CEO Kristi Coleman, and CPI Security executives, underscoring how seriously local leadership treats the partnership between the department's youth league and the NFL franchise.

The 11U squad belongs to CMPD PAL, a non-profit that pairs local youth with police mentors through sports and runs a 2026 summer camp priced at $50 for annual registration plus $75 to $150 per session, according to Charlotte Summer Camps. That low-cost structure is part of how PAL keeps youth athletics accessible across Charlotte neighborhoods.

A Longer History Between the Panthers and PAL

This isn't the first time Carolina Panthers players have invested personally in CMPD PAL. In June 2020, former Panthers Christian McCaffrey and Shaq Thompson launched the “22 Together” initiative with CMPD PAL to fund athletic programs and police mentorship for underserved youth, according to the Christian McCaffrey Foundation. PAL has also hosted mentorship programming beyond football; in May 2026, former NFL wide receiver and current law enforcement officer Laveranues Coles spoke to CMPD PAL youth alongside Chief Patterson about mentorship and personal safety, as reported by Police1.

PAL facilities have also served as hubs for broader community support. In November 2023, Hendrick Automotive Group and local organizers distributed 1,550 fresh turkeys and holiday meals to families near CMPD PAL facilities in Charlotte, according to Hendrick Automotive Group. Taken together, the practice session fits into a pattern of the Panthers organization, corporate sponsors and CMPD using youth football as a way to build relationships between local kids and police in the community.

CMPD News reminds residents that its X account is not monitored 24/7, and that emergencies should be reported by calling 911, with non-emergencies directed to 311.