Jake Delhomme. Undrafted out of Southwestern Louisiana. Two stints in what was NFL Europe. A third-string quarterback in the NFL.
Those guys don't end up in the Hall of Honor.
But there was always something different about Jake.
"Chills went through my body," Delhomme said when asked how he reacted to the call from Panthers owner David Tepper. "I'm very rarely speechless. But I was kind of taken aback. Floored. Honored. The memories just started going through my head.
"I hold this place really close to my heart."
To truly understand how much the Panthers mean to Delhomme, look no further than his goodbye press conference on March 5, 2010.
The gunslinger who took Carolina to Super Bowl XXXVIII signed a five-year extension ahead of the 2009 campaign but struggled that season before being placed on injured reserve. Then he was blindsided with the news that he was being released.
"That day – I remember it like yesterday," Delhomme said.
Press conferences have a tendency to be mundane and predictable. They're hardly memorable in most cases.
This one – Delhomme's goodbye – was different.
He walked into the media room already struggling to contain the emotions.
"Allergies are bad this time of year," he joked as he took a seat.
He tried to start speaking but couldn't. He needed a few moments to gather himself.
"To think back to March of 2003. I came here on a visit. A nobody," Delhomme told reporters before taking another long pause. "I apologize. These are joyful emotions that I'm feeling. That's the honest to God truth.
"When I signed here in '03 I wanted a chance to play quarterback in the NFL. I got that chance, and I think I made the most of it. I ran with it and we had a good run."
As for the extremely emotional goodbye? That's emblematic of Delhomme. His emotions were always out in the open.
"That's me. That's who I am, and I went with it," Delhomme said. "I knew I would be emotional, but it was the people walking into it who were all there. To see their emotions, it really got the best of me. That's what embodied what I believed about this organization. It wasn't just the players, it was the office staff to the equipment staff to the trainers to (team ambassador) John Coleman – just everything. This was my place. It rarely ends storybook in the NFL, it just doesn't. And I knew that."
Well, it does have a storybook ending after all.
Delhomme was once a nobody. Then he led the Panthers to their first Super Bowl appearance in his first year as a full-time starter.
Now he's going into Carolina's Hall of Honor.
"I never entertained that thought," Delhomme said of it ending this way. "I cared more about the relationships I had with the people in the building. That was kind of my deal. And then did we win or lose? It's a huge honor. Difficult to put into words."
Photos of quarterback Jake Delhomme throughout his years as a Carolina Panther.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) prepares to throw a pass during an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme, left, talks with general manager Marty Hurney after the second day of the football team's minicamp, Saturday, May 5, 2007, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) celebrates the Panthers' 29-21 victory over the Chicago Bears with teammate Mike Minter (30) in their NFC divisional playoff football game in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006. The Panthers will play the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC conference championship. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) celebrates while leaving the field after defeating the New Orleans Saints' 27-10 in an NFL football game at LSU's Tiger Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme, left, shares a laugh with receiver Steve Smith, right, during the team's final practice of training camp in Spartanburg, S.C., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005.(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Carolina Panthers quaterback Jake Delhomme laughs at a question as he's surrounded by the media during a press conference in Houston Monday, Jan. 26, 2004. The Panthers play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVlll on Sunday Feb. 1, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Carolina Panthers' Jake Delhomme (17) is shown against the Atalanta Falcons in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) throws a pass against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme prepares to throw a first half pass as Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Simeon Rice pursues during their National Football League game Sunday afternoon Sept. 24, 2006 in Tampa, Fla. The Panthers defeated the Buccaneers 26-24. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Carolina Panthers tackle Jordan Gross celebrates with quarterback Jake Delhomme after he rushed for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in the second quarter during their NFL football game in Baton Rouge, La., on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005. (AP Photo/Paul Rutherford)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) calls out at the line during their NFC wild card playoff football game against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006. The Panthers take on the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game on Sunday, Jan. 22 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) looks to pass under pressure from Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Spencer Johnson (91) during an NFL football game, Sunday, October 25, 2009. The Bills won the game, 20-9. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) celebrates after his 39-yard touchdown pass against the New England Patriots in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXVIII Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Carolina Panthers running back Stephen Davis (48) is congratulated by quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) after his first run during the Panthers' 21-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday Sept. 1, 2005. The Panthers watched and waited to see if Davis could pass his first test on his surgically repaired knee. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme lifts up head coach John Fox after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 14-3 in the NFC Championship game in Philadelphia Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004. (AP Photo/Miles Kennedy)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) throws a pass on the run during an NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the St. Louis Rams. The Panthers defeated the Rams 29-23 in overtime on January 10, 2004 in St. Louis, Missouri. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme answers questions during media day, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Super Bowl XXXVIII will be played Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004 between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme prepares to pass the ball during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass in the first quarter of their NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 14-3 in the NFC Championship game in Philadelphia Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) celebrates as Jacksonville Jaguars' Danny Clark (54) looks on after Delhomme threw a 12-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left in the Panthers' 24-23 win in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday Sept. 7, 2003. (AP Photo/Rusty Burroughs)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) passes during an NFL game against the Oakland Raiders, Nov. 9, 2008 in Oakland. (AP Photos/Greg Trott)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme throws a pass during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008, in San Diego. The Panthers won 26-24. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme looks to pass during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers' Jake Delhomme, left, is shown in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) scrambles as New Orleans Saints' Charles Grant (94) pursues during the second half of the Panthers' 30-7 win in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) talks with head coach John Fox during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) and Steve Smith (89), congratulate Jonathan Stewart, right, after his touchdown run during an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
