Carolina Panthers

Exclusive: Ryan Kalil shares behind-the-scenes photos from Panthers’ Super Bowl 50

By Scott Fowler and Théoden Janes

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Super Men: The inside story of the 2015 Carolina Panthers

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Ryan Kalil, the five-time Pro Bowl center for the Carolina Panthers, has always had a filmmaker’s eye.

Even while he was piling up on-field honors during one of the most successful Panther careers of all time, Kalil dabbled in making short films for the entertainment of his teammates. In 2007, while still in college at the University of Southern California, he co-starred in a hilarious spoof of training for the NFL Draft with actor Will Ferrell. With the Panthers, his videos about the team’s “PIG” Nerf basketball brackets and gently making fun of various teammates and coaches were always must-see viewing.

Kalil, 40, retired from the NFL after the 2019 season, and has co-founded Mortal Media with NBA star Blake Griffin. That production company has produced a number of film and television projects for various networks and streaming services like Apple, Netflix and Disney.

So maybe it’s not surprising that for the biggest game of Kalil’s NFL career, he brought along both a Leica camera and the idea of documenting the week.

Panthers center Ryan Kalil, pictured here in a self-portrait, brought along a good camera to document the days leading up to Super Bowl 50 for the 2015 Carolina Panthers. After playing 12 years for the Panthers and making five Pro Bowls, Kalil has gone on to a successful film and TV production career.
Panthers center Ryan Kalil, pictured here in a self-portrait, brought along a good camera to document the days leading up to Super Bowl 50 for the 2015 Carolina Panthers. After playing 12 years for the Panthers and making five Pro Bowls, Kalil has gone on to a successful film and TV production career. RYAN KALIL

Kalil shot black-and-white portraits on that Leica camera of many players, coaches and Panther officials in the run-up to the 2015 Super Bowl, capturing behind-the-scenes moments that the public never saw.

Now living in California with his family, Kalil agreed to share more than a dozen of those photos with The Charlotte Observer for its “Super Men” project that commemorates the 10-year anniversary of that team. All of the pictures below were taken by Kalil in early 2016, in the days just before Super Bowl 50.

Even when resting his eyes, quarterback Cam Newton had a smile on his face in the days before Super Bowl 50. Newton was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2015 and remains the only Panthers player to ever win that honor.
Even when resting his eyes, quarterback Cam Newton had a smile on his face in the days before Super Bowl 50. Newton was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2015 and remains the only Panthers player to ever win that honor. RYAN KALIL
Panthers tight end Greg Olsen, during a down moment prior to Super Bowl 50, checks his cell phone. “We didn’t even know Ryan was taking photos after a while that week,” Olsen says now. “We just got used to him having a camera in his hands. What he captured were some candid photos that showed that team’s true personality.”
Panthers tight end Greg Olsen, during a down moment prior to Super Bowl 50, checks his cell phone. “We didn’t even know Ryan was taking photos after a while that week,” Olsen says now. “We just got used to him having a camera in his hands. What he captured were some candid photos that showed that team’s true personality.” RYAN KALIL
Charles “Peanut” Tillman started 12 games for the Panthers in 2015 before tearing his ACL in the regular-season finale and missing Carolina’s entire playoff run. Tillman that year shared his uncanny knack for forcing turnovers with his teammates, especially the “Peanut Punch” that often caused fumbles. In 2015, the Panthers led the NFL with 24 interceptions and tied for the lead in both forced fumbles (22) and fumble recoveries (15), and the secondary picked up the nickname “Thieves Avenue.”
Charles “Peanut” Tillman started 12 games for the Panthers in 2015 before tearing his ACL in the regular-season finale and missing Carolina’s entire playoff run. Tillman that year shared his uncanny knack for forcing turnovers with his teammates, especially the “Peanut Punch” that often caused fumbles. In 2015, the Panthers led the NFL with 24 interceptions and tied for the lead in both forced fumbles (22) and fumble recoveries (15), and the secondary picked up the nickname “Thieves Avenue.” RYAN KALIL
Defensive end Jared Allen was in the last season of a Pro Football Hall of Fame career when the Panthers traded for him in September 2015 following a hamstring injury to Charles Johnson. ”Jared, at that time, was in the final year of his career,” says Dave Gettleman, who made the trade for Allen as Carolina’s general manager in 2015. “He was still a great player against the run, and he was a great fit for us.”
Defensive end Jared Allen was in the last season of a Pro Football Hall of Fame career when the Panthers traded for him in September 2015 following a hamstring injury to Charles Johnson. ”Jared, at that time, was in the final year of his career,” says Dave Gettleman, who made the trade for Allen as Carolina’s general manager in 2015. “He was still a great player against the run, and he was a great fit for us.” RYAN KALIL
Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman in 2015. Gettleman was a proponent of what he called “hog mollies,” the large offensive and defensive linemen that he contended must anchor every great football team. “Big men allow you to compete,” he liked to say. He was the Panthers’ general manager for all three consecutive NFC South championships from 2013-15.
Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman in 2015. Gettleman was a proponent of what he called “hog mollies,” the large offensive and defensive linemen that he contended must anchor every great football team. “Big men allow you to compete,” he liked to say. He was the Panthers’ general manager for all three consecutive NFC South championships from 2013-15. RYAN KALIL
Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. was renowned for his speed, and his role as the team’s best deep threat grew larger after wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL in training camp in August 2015. Ginn scored a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2015.
Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. was renowned for his speed, and his role as the team’s best deep threat grew larger after wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL in training camp in August 2015. Ginn scored a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2015. RYAN KALIL
Ron Rivera, the Panthers’ head coach in 2015, remains the winningest coach in the team’s history. In both 2013 and 2015, he was voted the NFL’s Coach of the Year.
Ron Rivera, the Panthers’ head coach in 2015, remains the winningest coach in the team’s history. In both 2013 and 2015, he was voted the NFL’s Coach of the Year. RYAN KALIL
Tre Boston was the Carolina Panthers’ fourth-round pick out of UNC in the 2014 draft. He was a fast and valuable reserve on the 2015 team at safety, playing behind veterans Kurt Coleman and Roman Harper.
Tre Boston was the Carolina Panthers’ fourth-round pick out of UNC in the 2014 draft. He was a fast and valuable reserve on the 2015 team at safety, playing behind veterans Kurt Coleman and Roman Harper. RYAN KALIL
Panthers tight end Greg Olsen sits alone during Super Bowl week. Olsen had arguably the best year of his career in 2015, making the Pro Bowl while catching 77 passes for 1104 yards and seven touchdowns.
Panthers tight end Greg Olsen sits alone during Super Bowl week. Olsen had arguably the best year of his career in 2015, making the Pro Bowl while catching 77 passes for 1104 yards and seven touchdowns. RYAN KALIL
Mike Shula was the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator in 2015, as well as the son of legendary NFL head coach Don Shula. Now the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks, Shula is also the person who suggested to Panthers quarterback Cam Newton that Newton should hand touchdown balls to children in Bank of America Stadium, beginning a beloved tradition.
Mike Shula was the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator in 2015, as well as the son of legendary NFL head coach Don Shula. Now the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks, Shula is also the person who suggested to Panthers quarterback Cam Newton that Newton should hand touchdown balls to children in Bank of America Stadium, beginning a beloved tradition. RYAN KALIL
Left tackle Michael Oher protected quarterback all season in 2015. Oher’s early life was also the subject of the 2009 movie “The Blind Side,” although he made no secret with his teammates that he disliked the way he was portrayed in the film.
Left tackle Michael Oher protected quarterback all season in 2015. Oher’s early life was also the subject of the 2009 movie “The Blind Side,” although he made no secret with his teammates that he disliked the way he was portrayed in the film. RYAN KALIL
Panthers offensive tackle Mike Remmers, wearing sunglasses and his “playoff beard” shortly before the Super Bowl.
Panthers offensive tackle Mike Remmers, wearing sunglasses and his “playoff beard” shortly before the Super Bowl. RYAN KALIL
Jerry Richardson, a former NFL player himself, made his fortune in restaurants and founded the Carolina Panthers in 1995. He liked to sometimes visit with the players, on the field or at their lockers. Richardson, who sold the team in 2018 to current owner David Tepper, died in 2023.
Jerry Richardson, a former NFL player himself, made his fortune in restaurants and founded the Carolina Panthers in 1995. He liked to sometimes visit with the players, on the field or at their lockers. Richardson, who sold the team in 2018 to current owner David Tepper, died in 2023. RYAN KALIL
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart adjusts his cleats in the locker room. “Stew,” as his teammates called him, was a bruising back who remains the Panthers’ all-time leading rusher and made the only Pro Bowl of his career in 2015.
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart adjusts his cleats in the locker room. “Stew,” as his teammates called him, was a bruising back who remains the Panthers’ all-time leading rusher and made the only Pro Bowl of his career in 2015. RYAN KALIL
Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly in a pensive moment prior to Super Bowl 50, in a photograph taken by teammate Ryan Kalil, who was the team’s center and has gone on into a career in film and TV production.
Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly in a pensive moment prior to Super Bowl 50, in a photograph taken by teammate Ryan Kalil, who was the team’s center and has gone on into a career in film and TV production. RYAN KALIL

This story was originally published July 15, 2025 at 5:05 AM.

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Scott Fowler
The Charlotte Observer
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Columnist Scott Fowler has written for The Charlotte Observer since 1994 and has earned 26 APSE awards for his sportswriting. He hosted The Observer’s podcast “Carruth,” which Sports Illustrated once named “Podcast of the Year.” Fowler also conceived and hosted the online series and podcast “Sports Legends of the Carolinas,” which featured 1-on-1 interviews with NC and SC sports icons and was turned into a book. He occasionally writes about non-sports subjects, such as the 5-part series “9/11/74,” which chronicled the forgotten plane crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 in Charlotte on Sept. 11, 1974. Support my work with a digital subscription
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Super Men: The inside story of the 2015 Carolina Panthers

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