CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- For 11 seasons, Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson terrorized opposing quarterbacks, racking up 67.5 sacks, forcing 20 fumbles and causing countless sleepless nights for offensive coordinators around the NFL.

Those days officially came to an end when Johnson retired on Wednesday. Thursday, he was able to say his goodbye's inside Bank of America stadium. Teammates, family and friends gathering in the players auditorium watching a bona fide building block of the franchise walk away from the game.

"I've seen the ups, I've seen the downs," Johnson said at his retirement gathering. "I've seen the highs, I've seen the lows. I've seen new coaches. New people. It's a blessing, and I don't take it for granted. I loved it. I lived it. I loved it."

Johnson is a rarity in professional sports. He spent his entire career with one team. For the Panthers franchise, this is something that is perhaps more common than other teams. Players like Mike Minter, Mike Rucker, Jordan Gross, and Dan Morgan come to mind as players that wore only the Panthers uniforms in their pro careers. Johnson almost didn't make it into that group, after a meeting with a long-time NFC South rival in 2016.

"Tampa (Bay Buccaneers) closed me in a room for like an hour-thirty," Johnson said. "They offered me the most money down there, but it was just awkward. It's just a different vibe. I couldn't do it. I was ready to go. I play against these guys every year, and to switch up like that? I couldn't do it."

Johnson appeared in 143 regular season games for the Panthers, a franchise record for defensive linemen. Certainly not every game was memorable, but number 95 had a collection of his own greatest hits at the ready.

"I'm gonna always remember those Atlanta games...torching Atlanta. Torching Kurt Warner. Torching (Carson) Palmer," Johnson said, the names coming to him effortlessly.  "All the Tampa quarterbacks. Drew Brees, hit him multiple times. I'm just gonna remember all those, ya know what I'm saying? You leave a legacy without even knowing it."

And which quarterback did he delight in sacking the most?

Johnson asked for some assistance from the reporters surrounding him, and the consensus was Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Johnson smiled. "I appreciate that."

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