Thursday, February 04, 2016

For UNCW alumnus Brandon Beane and the Carolina Panthers, posting a 15-1 regular season record and winning the National Football Conference Championship isn’t enough.

“We still have unfinished business,” said Beane ’98, the Carolina Panthers’ assistant general manager. “There is only one happy team at the end of the year, so anything less than a Super Bowl victory will be a disappointment.”

Beane experienced disappointment in February 2004 when the team lost to the New England Patriots 32 to 29. He hopes this time the Panthers will return to Charlotte with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the title of National Football League champions. The Panthers battle the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7 in California.

“It has been great to see the excitement throughout the Carolinas with our success this season,” said Beane. “I have texted with several of my UNCW friends and alumni throughout the season, and it has been neat to see how excited they are about our chance to bring back the Lombardi Trophy.”

As assistant general manager, Beane works behind the scenes building the team roster. He set a goal to be a leader in the organization when he was an intern in the Panthers’ media relations office after graduating from UNCW. He worked his way up, landing a job as director of football operations nine years after starting with the organization.

Beane works with the Panthers’ negotiation team on player contracts, scouts college games and practices in preparation for the NFL draft, and works with the general manager and pro scouts on personnel decisions. He executed the trades that netted cornerback Bene Benwikere, wide receiver Devin Funchess and offensive tackle Daryl Williams.

In 2012, he was the Panthers’ interim general manager during the final 10 games of the season.

“In our business you are ultimately graded by your success on the field, so it feels great to see all of the time and hard work pay off with a trip to the Super Bowl,” he said.

-- Venita Jenkins

#CAS