CANTON, Ohio — You're going to see all the highlights this weekend and be reminded about all the amazing things Julius Peppers was capable of.
There is more than you can pack in a 30-second video, just a collection of play after play, the kinds that only he could make. You could watch them all and still be amazed.
So imagine being teammates with him, and seeing it day after day, and only occasionally realizing how special he was.
"I truly believe we took him for granted," former Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme said. "I really and truly believe we took him for granted because there was never a problem. When was Julius a problem ever in the media? Anywhere on the practice field, off the practice field? I mean, he never was a problem, and his greatness we took for granted because there was an expectation he was going to show up every week, and he did, but he didn't boast about it. He didn't cause a stir or cause a scene once.
"It hurts me to say it. I think we took it for granted."
It's easy to do, when there are so many times he'd do something that just stop you in your tracks. Occasionally, that happened during games. Everyone who worked with him has a version of "that time Julius did the thing," and while there's a lot of overlap with the plays you'll see on video tributes this weekend, there were a lot of instances of everyday excellence, as he had the ability to spice up the most mundane practice of training camp at any moment.
"We're running a screen, and I look, and I put it up and over the top. I mean, it's perfect, it's set up for a big gain," Delhomme began. "He jumps up with his left hand and literally stabs it in the air; one hands it and runs the other way.
"I looked at Foxy (head coach John Fox), and he had the whistle in his mouth. And Foxy was just laughing, and he said, 'At least he's on our team,' because nobody makes that play. Nobody does it. It's like, are you serious right now?"
He'd usually come up with that big grin when he did it, making you wonder if it was serious or if even he believed it sometimes.
For Greg Olsen, who was a young player with Peppers in Chicago and an older one here during his comeback seasons, they spread across a decade from a player in his physical prime to one who shouldn't be able to do the things he did every day at the age he did them at.
"He would do something in practice, you'd be like, 'I've never seen anyone do that before,'" Olsen said. "And then the next day, he would do something you say, 'I've never seen anyone do that before.' But then, another time, he would do something that you'd never seen before. And no one even stopped. Like no one even broke stride. It became normalized, which is so hard to do.
"But when you are so exceptional amongst your peers, and you do it on such a regular basis, you can't throw the guy a parade every day, right? And it probably wasn't fair to him that we all just expected greatness on such a regular basis."
That was at least partially Peppers' own fault, for doing it so often. That's why he'll be on the field at Tom Benson Stadium tonight, honored alongside the rest of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
He cruised through the voting in his first year of eligibility, becoming (appropriately), the 90th one of those ever. There are 378 members of the Hall of Fame, meaning fewer than a quarter of those selected are considered as automatic a pick as he was.
But looking at the numbers shows you how exclusive the company he keeps truly is. He was chosen to the All-Decade team for both the 2000s and 2010s and is one of just 29 individuals in football history with the kind of longevity to achieve that distinction.
Players like left tackle Jordan Gross saw it every day, as the guy matched up with Peppers in practice for seven years.
"I hated going against him in half-line run in practice just as much as I hated going against him in one-on-one pass pro, and that's not right," Gross said. "Like when I would go against him, I knew, OK, there's nobody better in today's NFL. You just know he's going to be a Hall of Famer, but you don't know that when it's happening. So, yeah, you took him for granted because he was a guy living, flesh-walking, breathing like the rest of us. And you weren't able to reflect on the body of work at the time and realized he'd end up one of the top sack guys of all time. That doesn't happen until later.
"We're kind of conditioned to rank things or declare the best ever. And he was just at that level for 17 years, basically, which doesn't happen. So sometimes I struggle to put him in the context."
Defensive tackle Brentson Buckner is likewise a student of the game's history, and played alongside other Hall of Famers. And even he struggles to recognize how one person could contain the multitude of traits Peppers did. There's really only one player in Panthers franchise history who approaches his level of athleticism, several standard deviations from the norm (former quarterback Cam Newton).
That's why when they played together, Buckner famously described Peppers as "the next evolution of man."
"I always tell people I played with Hall of Fame guys, I played with Chris Doleman. I played with Charles Haley," Buckner said. "But somebody as big as Pep, that tall, that athletic, he moved like a defensive back or wide receiver. But he had the size of a classic D lineman, not just a defensive end, like he could be a three-technique and play. But then, just to watch the things he did, he could jump, he could run, he could catch, he could throw the ball.
"Then you watch him play basketball. A lot of football players would say, yeah, I played basketball in college. They're the eighth man on the bench, and they might get in. He played quality minutes for a Final Four team, and he's dunking on people and hitting turnaround jump shots.
"Just watch the things he did. I haven't seen a human being in person do those, not at that size."
Seeing him contrasted with much smaller athletes often brings his amazing talent into perspective.
The oft-cited 101-yard interception return in Denver was only kept from being a touchdown when a wide receiver chased him down at the end of a sprint at altitude. (After he had recovered from a slip to chase down a bootlegging Jake Plummer and preventing a touchdown on the previous play.)
"There were a couple of times him catching Michael Vick, just knowing how fast Michael Vick is, and there's a much larger animal chasing him and actually able to catch him," former running back DeShaun Foster said. "It was just his movements. It's little things at practice. Back then we used to throw a lot of alerts to Smitty (wide receiver Steve Smith). So if the defender was off and it was a run play, we were probably going to spit it out there to Smitty and let him go because he could make somebody miss and go to the house. But then seeing Pep able to tip it to himself and then catch it. It was just impressive, you know, but that was something that he would do all the time.
"So you just kind of take it for granted that, you know, with this all-time athlete, but you see it daily, so you don't really understand what you're seeing until it's gone."
Having been stuck watching a few of those practice interceptions, Smith laughs when he thinks about seeing a 6-foot-7, 290-pound guy doing the things Peppers did so routinely.
"It wasn't that he was so good that you lost sight of him, but it's an entitlement, its expectation, and Pep was that expectation; you were entitled to know that he would lock down and impact and be diligent and territorial of his side of the football," Smith said. "He always did his job, and he made what we now call havoc plays, or impact plays, the things he did all the time. But he'd also do little things, like make a running back bounce outside to somebody else or mess up the timing of the whole offense. There's no stat for that.
"Pep was playing in first class his whole career. And all of a sudden, he's gone, and you ride back in coach, and you realize, oh, this is what it's like, right? You did take it for granted because of how he played. It's like one of those things, you sure wish you had them when you don't have them, but when you do have them, you kind of don't pay attention to it every day."
Of course, that also depends on your perspective.
Panthers general manager Dan Morgan is in the business of finding impact players now, but when he was the middle linebacker behind Peppers, he understood what was happening at the time.
"I mean, I didn't take him for granted; I was playing right behind him, and he made my job so much easier," Morgan said with a laugh. "I mean, listen, you were out there at times where he intercepts the ball with one hand, they think they're fitting the screen over him, and he just puts his hand up, intercepts it, runs it back for a touchdown. Like he did that more than a handful of times. Every day in practice, he would do something crazy.
"So yeah, I get why somebody might say you'd take it for granted. But we also appreciated it every day, too."
View 90 photos of the legendary defensive end from his time in a Panthers uniform.
In this April 20, 2002, file photo, Julius Peppers, of North Carolina, holds up a team jersey after being selected by the Carolina Panthers as their first pick, second overall, in the NFL Draft in New York. (AP Photo/Ed Betz, File)
Julius Peppers during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ericsson Stadium on September 28, 2003.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on November 22, 2003.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Washinton Redskins at Ericsson Stadium on November 15, 2003.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Detroit Lions at Ericsson Stadium on December 20, 2003.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Tennesee Titans at Ericsson Stadium on October 19, 2003.
Julius Peppers and Jevon Kearse during a game against the Tennesee Titans at Ericsson Stadium on October 19, 2003.
Julius Peppers sacks Quincy Carter during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on November 22, 2003.
Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox, center, congratulates defensive end Julius Peppers (90) after Peppers' interception in the fourth quarter of the Panthers' 29-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Playoff at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday Jan. 3, 2004. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Julius Peppers signs autographs when the Panthers returned to Ericsson Stadium after winning the NFC Championship on Jan. 18, 2004.
Julius Peppers alongside defensive line teammates (l-r Shane Burton, Mike Rucker, Julius Peppers, Brentson Buckner, Kris Jenkins, Al Wallace) during a practice leading up to Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.
Carolina Panthers' Julius Peppers answers questions during Super Bowl XXXVIII media day, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Julius Peppers during Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.
Julius Peppers alongside Brentson Buckner, Mike Rucker and Al Wallace at Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium on November 20, 2004.
Julius Peppers during a game against the St. Louis Rams at Bank of America Stadium on December 11, 2004.
Julius Peppers returns an interception for a 46-yard touchdown during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on November 28, 2004.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick (7) is sacked by Carolina Panthers' Julius Peppers (90) during the fourth quarter of the Panthers' 24-6 win in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005.(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Julius Peppers sacks Drew Bledsoe during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium on December 23, 2005.
Julius Peppers chases Drew Bledsoe during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium on December 23, 2005.
Julius Peppers embraces head coach John Fox after a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium on December 3, 2005.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 16, 2005.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 5, 2005.
Julius Peppers lines up at wide receiver during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Bank of America Stadium on October 3, 2005.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 20, 2005.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on January 19, 2006.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on January 15, 2006.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on November 12, 2006.
Julius Peppers during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium on October 30, 2006.
Julius Peppers pressures Brett Favre during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, November 18, 2007.
Julius Peppers and Brett Favre after a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, November 18, 2007.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Pheonix Stadium on Sunday, October 14, 2007.
Julius Peppers, Mike Rucker, Steve Smith and John Kasay prior to a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on Sunday, December 9, 2007.
Julius Peppers during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, December 2, 2007.
Julius Peppers celebrates with Chris Gamble during a game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday, September 7, 2008.
Julius Peppers tackles LaDainian Tomlinson during a game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday, September 7, 2008.
Julius Peppers and Jared Allen during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on Sunday, September 21, 2008.
Julius Peppers pressures Matt Ryan during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 28, 2008.
Julius Peppers pressures Kurt Warner during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 26, 2008.
Carolina Panthers' Julius Peppers (90) stands over Detroit Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper (11) after sacking him and causing a fumble during the second half of the Panthers' 31-22 win in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Julius Peppers and Charles Johnson during a game against the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 14, 2008.
Julius Peppers during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 19, 2008.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 5, 2008.
Julius Peppers sacks Aaron Rodgers during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, November 30, 2008.
Julius Peppers and Charles Johnson prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome on Sunday, December 28, 2008.
Julius Peppers sacks Drew Brees during a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome on Sunday, December 28, 2008.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 13, 2009.
Julius Peppers returns an interception for a touchdown during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, November 1, 2009.
Julius Peppers during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, November 1, 2009.
Julius Peppers and Ryan Kalil during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 13, 2009.
Julius Peppers prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 25, 2009.
Julius Peppers sacks Eli Manning during a game against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium on Sunday, December 27, 2009.
Julius Peppers during a game against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium on Sunday, December 27, 2009.
Julius Peppers during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, January 3, 2010.
Julius Peppers and head coach Ron Rivera in Peppers' first game after returning to the Panthers at San Francisco on Sunday, September 10, 2017, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA.
The Carolina Panthers play against the San Francisco 49ers during week one of the regular season on Sunday, September 10, 2017, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA.
Julius Peppers runs out of the tunnel during his first game back at Bank of America Stadium in Week 2 against Buffalo in 2017.
Carolina Panther celebrates a sack against the Buffalo Bills in his first game as a Panther back at Bank of American Stadium on Sunday, September 17, 2017 in Charlotte, N.C.
Julius Peppers strip-sacks Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz at Bank of American Stadium on Thursday, October 12, 2017 in Charlotte, N.C.
Julius Peppers embraces teammate Thomas Davis at a game in Tampa Bay in 2017.
Julius Peppers sacks Tom Brady in a game at New England in 2017.
Julius Peppers sacks Josh McCown in a game at the New York Jets in 2017.
Julius Peppers and teammate Luke Kuechly.
Julius Peppers bangs the Keep Pounding Drum before a game against Green Bay Packers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, December 17, 2017.
Carolina Panthers against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a game at Bank of American Stadium on Sunday, December 24, 2017 in Charlotte, NC. (Photo by Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez)
Julius Peppers sacks Jameis Winston against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a game at Bank of American Stadium on Sunday, December 24, 2017 in Charlotte, NC. (Photo by Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez)
Julius Peppers waves to the crowd against Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday, September 9, 2018.
Julius Peppers tackles Saquon Barkley during the game against the Giants on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018.
Julius Peppers walks off the field during the game against the Giants on Sun., Oct. 7, 2018.
Julius Peppers strip-sacks Alex Smith in a game against Washington in 2018.
Cam Newton hugs Julius Peppers during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, October 21, 2018.
Julius Peppers in the tunnel before player introductions during a week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 28, 2018.
Julius Peppers pressures Joe Flacco during a week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 28, 2018.
Julius Peppers comforts families of fallen soldiers being recognized during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, Nov 4, 2018.
Julius Peppers against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, Nov 4, 2018.
Julius Peppers and Luke Kuechly against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, Nov 4, 2018.
Julius Peppers, Mike Adams, Captain Munnerlyn and Luke Kuechly celebrate a defensive stop against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Julius Peppers in the locker room during pregame against the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, December 2, 2018.
Julius Peppers walks off the field after a game against the Saints on Monday Night Football on Monday, December 17, 2018.
Julius Peppers is introduced for the last time at Bank of America Stadium prior to a game against Atlanta on Dec. 23, 2018. (Photo by Kent Smith)
Julius Peppers was an NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in 2018. (Photo by Kent Smith)
Thomas Davis and Julius Peppers talk on the sidelines against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday, December 30, 2018.
Julius Peppers at the game against the Saints on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018.
Julius Peppers during the game against the Saints on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018.
Julius Peppers leaves the field for the last time against the Saints on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018.
