Carolina Panthers have been the representative team of both North and South Carolina since their inception in 1993, having played in both states during their lifetime.
They were granted a spot in the 1995 NFC West for their maiden season and they impressed with an all-time best debut campaign by an expansion team with a 7-9 record. Jacksonville Jaguars joined them as a new expansion team in the same season, but they slumped to a 4-12 losing season to accentuate the Panthers' impressive introduction to the league.
In their short history, they have played in seven post-seasons, four championship games and two Super Bowls, despite some rocky up-and-down periods in which they endured excruciating 1-15 and 2-14 losing seasons.
What the Panthers do best, though, is revival - and they demonstrated their defiance by reaching the play-offs three times in four years under head coach, Ron Rivera.
The 2015 Coach of the Year led Carolina to Super Bowl 50 to face Denver Broncos, which was the first time they had reached the championship game since 2003.
Linebacker and NFL MVP, Von Miller, and his defensive unit were too strong for Cam Newton and co. in California, but the Super Bowl appearance made it a third consecutive post-season for the Panthers - a new record for the franchise.
A disappointing losing season in 2016 has threatened to stunt growth somewhat, but record-setting home attendances and a resurgent attitude suggest that a league title isn't far away for the united Carolinas at the franchise-owned Bank of America Stadium.