CHARLOTTE – The Panthers have beefed up their pass rush by signing linebacker/defensive end Bruce Irvin, a former first-round draft pick, to a one-year contract.
Irvin, selected No. 15 overall in 2012 by the Seahawks, spent the second half of last season with the Falcons, recording 3.5 sacks after coming up with three sacks over the first half of the year with the Raiders.
In seven NFL seasons with the Seahawks, Raiders and Falcons, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Irvin has 43.5 sacks, 266 tackles, 15 forced fumbles, 11 passes defensed and three interceptions. He's one of four NFL players since 2016 with more than 20 sacks and 10 forced fumbles.
"Our primary focus coming into the offseason was to add talent to our offensive line and our front on defense, primarily in the area of rushing the passer," general manager Marty Hurney said. "Bruce has a knack for sacking and disrupting the quarterback. We are very pleased to have him as a member of the Carolina Panthers."
After Irvin piled up 22.5 sacks in two seasons at West Virginia, he quickly developed into a key cog on one of the league's top defenses. Over his time in Seattle (2012-15), the Seahawks defense ranked first in points allowed (15.7 per game) and yards allowed (284.7 per game), third in interceptions (73) and fourth in forced fumbles (71). After leading NFL rookies with eight sacks in 2012, Irvin helped the Seahawks reach the Super Bowl each of the next two seasons.
Irvin's last game with Seattle was a playoff loss to the Panthers at the end of the 2015 season. He then signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Raiders and played there two-and-a-half seasons before being released, recording 18 sacks, 121 tackles and 11 forced fumbles in Oakland. He tied a career high in sacks with eight in 2017.
View some of the best images of the accomplished pass rusher from his seven seasons in the league with the Seahawks, Raiders and Falcons.
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Bruce Irvin (52) is seen prior to a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Tampa,Fla. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Bruce Irvin (52) is seen in action during a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Tampa,Fla. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers tries to get away from Atlanta Falcons' Bruce Irvin during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Oakland Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) celebrates during a week 15 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Oakland, Calif. Dallas won 20-17. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Oakland Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) in coverage as Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) blocks during an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017 in Oakland, Calif. Chargers won 17-16. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) celebrates during an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 in San Diego. Oakland won 19-16. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) tries to escape the grasp of Oakland Raiders defensive end Bruce Irvin (51) during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Oakland Raiders defensive end Bruce Irvin (51) gets set during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins defeated the Raiders, 28-20. (Ryan Kang via AP)
FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2017, file photo, Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) pursues Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) during the first half of an AFC Wild Card NFL football game, in Houston. Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie had plenty of youth and needed playoff experience when he went on his spending spree last year. He brought in linebacker Bruce Irvin with two Super Bowl appearances from Seattle to ease the focus on Khalil Mack, and Irvin came through with seven sacks and six forced fumbles. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
FILE- In this Oct. 7, 2018, file photo, Oakland Raiders defensive end Bruce Irvin, center, reacts after sacking Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers during the first half of an NFL football game in Carson, Calif. The Atlanta Falcons have signed Irvin to a one-year deal announced Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, reuniting the veteran with coach Dan Quinn. Irvin, cut by the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, became a free agent after clearing waivers on Tuesday with $3.8 million remaining on his contract. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) fumbles as he is hit by Oakland Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Oakland Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half during an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Oakland Raiders defensive end Bruce Irvin (51) lines up on the line of scrimmage in front of Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Duane Brown (76) during a week 6 NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018 in London. Seattle won 27-3. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) celebrates during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) is hit by Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) as he attempts to pass during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) rests during an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The Seahawks won the game, 36-6. (Greg Trott via AP)
Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) sacks New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) during the second half of NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) runs against St. Louis Rams tight end Jared Cook (89) after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 28, 2013, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Bruce Irvin, center, pushes San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) out of bounds during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014 in Seattle. The Seahawks won, 17-7. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) lines up in a four-point stance during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving in Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Thursday, November 27, 2014. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 19-3. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) runs the ball for a touchdown after an interception during an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field on Sunday, December 28, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. Seattle won 20-6. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Bruce Irvin, linebacker exterior de los Seahawks de Seattle, celebra luego de capturar al quarterback de los Patriots de Nueva Inglaterra, Tom Brady, en el Super Bowl XLIX, el domingo 1 de febrero de 2015 (AP Foto/Michael Conroy)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) celebrates with Seahawks' DeShawn Shead (35) after Irvin returned an interception for a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Scott Eklund)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) looks into the backfield during an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 12, 2014. The Cowboys defeated the Seahawks 30-23 in Week 6. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Bruce Irvin (51) looks on during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 10, 2013 in Atlanta. The Seahawks won 33-10. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)
Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) returns an interception for a touchdown during an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, November. 2, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) pressures Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) pop out his mouthpiece during the second half of NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin tackles New York Giants running back Andre Williams for a 2-yard loss in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Scott Eklund)
Seattle Seahawks running back Robert Turbin (22) displays a newspaper that proclaims the Seahawks as World Champions to linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) after the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014 in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Seahawks defeated the Broncos 43-8. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) looks into the backfield during an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers at CenturyLink Field on October 18, 2015. The Panthers defeated the Seahawks 27-23. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, right, strips the ball from St. Louis Rams tight end Lance Kendricks (88), which resulted in an interception by linebacker Bruce Irvin, right, that Irvin returned for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Scott Eklund)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) celebrates a sack during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game, 27-7. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, left, is sacked by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Bruce Irvin in the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks Bruce Irvin (51) during an NFC Divisional playoff football game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013 in Atlanta. The Falcons won 30-28. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Bruce Irvin celebrates his team's victory on the sidelines after an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013. The Seahawks defeated the Redskins 24-14. (AP Photo/Richard Lipski)
