Two weeks after reports surfaced in early March that left tackle Russell Okung would be headed to Carolina, the trade was made official Wednesday.
Before Okung gets to work in Carolina, get to know the new Panthers offensive left tackle.
Overcoming adversity
For a large part of the 2019 season, Okung found himself sidelined from the game he loved. But it wasn't a knee injury or a broken bone keeping him from suiting up. In July, Okung suffered a pulmonary embolism due to blood clots in his lungs and left leg.
The life-threatening ailment forced Okung to miss all of training camp and the first six games of the season, before returning to practice in Week 7 and stepping back into his starting role in Week 8.
Commit to the Bit(coin)
Last year, Okung became one of the first NFL players to request to be paid in Bitcoin, a form of digital cryptocurrency. Ultimately, Okung's request wasn't granted, but he has positioned himself at the forefront of the movement among professional athletes.
While the league may not be paying him digitally, Okung has remained committed to Bitcoin. The left tackle often tweets about the cryptocurrency and even positioned the Bitcoin logo on his locker with the Chargers so it would be visible during his postgame and practice interviews.
An LA reunion
When Okung gets started in Carolina, he'll find a familiar voice coaching him from the sidelines. Okung's trade reunites him with his former offensive line coach, Pat Meyer. The duo worked together for three years in Los Angeles, a stretch that saw Okung reach his second career Pro Bowl in 2017. Meyer joined head coach Matt Rhule's staff in January.
Okung previously played for Chargers (2017-19), Broncos (2016) and Seahawks (2010-15).
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) seen on the bench during an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018 in Glendale, Ariz. Arizona won 24-17. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) gets set during the 2018 regular season week 1 NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 in Carson, Calif. The Chiefs won the game 38-28. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chargers defeated the Chiefs, 29-28. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) looks up from the sideline with his helmet off during a NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 in Carson, Calif. The Chargers won the game 26-21. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman Russell Okung (76) jogs to the sideline during a regular season Week 17 NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Denver Broncos in Denver on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018. The Chargers beat the Broncos 23-9. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman Russell Okung (76) looks to block against Ravens linebacker Matthew Judon (99) during a NFL Wild Card Playoff football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019. The Chargers beat the Ravens 23-17. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) looks on during an NFL football preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 in Carson, Calif. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 23-15. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2018, file photo, Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) plays against the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh. Okung took part in his first practice since June 1, 2019, when he suffered a pulmonary embolism during an offseason workout at the team facility. He is being treated for blood clots and has been on the non-football injury list. (AP Photo/Don Wright, File)
Los Angeles Chargers tackle Russell Okung (76) blocks during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Chicago. The Chargers defeated the Bears, 17-16. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Preston Smith (91) runs around the edge as Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) blocks during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019 in Carson, Calif. Los Angeles won 26-11. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith (55) runs around the edge as Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) blocks during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019 in Carson, Calif. Los Angeles won 26-11. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) blocks during an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. Oakland won 26-24. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) shakes hands with a child on the field after the coin toss before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) works against Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell (93) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) looks on from the sideline bench during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019 in Carson, Calif. The Chargers defeated the Packers 26-11. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) blocks during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019 in Carson, Calif. The Chargers defeated the Packers 26-11. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (25) celebrates a touchdown with offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) during the first half of an NFL football against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Chargers won 45-10.(Perry Knotts via AP)
Denver Broncos offensive tackle Russell Okung gets set for a play in action against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL football game on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 in Denver. The Broncos won the game 24-6. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) looks up from the field during a NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, December 20, 2015 in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game 30-13. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Seattle Seahawks' Russell Okung answers a question at a news conference for NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Phoenix. The Seahawks play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Denver Broncos offensive lineman Russell Okung (73) blocks during an NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Denver, Co. The Broncos won the game, 34-20. (Greg Trott via AP)
Denver Broncos tackle Russell Okung (73) watches play against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL football game Dec.4, 2016 in Jacksonville, Fla. Denver won 20 - 10. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung sets up to block in action against the Denver Broncos during an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017 in Carson, Calif. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 21-0. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2015, file photo, Seattle Seahawks' Russell Okung speaks to the media during the NFL Super Bowl Media Day in Phoenix. Okung is often asked to go at it alone as a left tackle, so it should be no surprise that when it comes to negotiating his next contract he's doing it without an agent. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File)
Seattle Seahawks tackle Russell Okung (76) during an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014 in Seattle. The Cowboys won, 30-23. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) looks up from the field during a NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, December 20, 2015 in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game 30-13. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Seattle Seahawks tackle Russell Okung (76) is seen in action 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)
FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016 file photo, Seattle Seahawks tackle Russell Okung (76) sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL wild-card football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. John Elway bolstered both his offensive line and his already strong reputation as one of the NFL's best general managers Thursday, March 17, 2016 by luring former Seattle Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung to the Denver Broncos.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Seattle Seahawks tackle Russell Okung (76) lines up in a two-point stance 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)
