This former Packers running back, fan favorite signs with a new team

AJ Dillon’s NFL career will continue with the Carolina Panthers.

After his lone season with the Philadelphia Eagles, the former Green Bay Packers running back is joining the Panthers on a one-year deal, according to The Schultz Report.

Dillon confirmed the deal when he reshared the news on X and wrote: “Keep Pounding Let’s goooo!!!! Panthers”

He also shared throwback photos on X from when he was in college, visited the team facilities and met then-star linebacker Luke Kuechly, a 2026 Pro Football Hall of Famer.

A second-round pick by the Packers from Boston College in 2020, Dillon spent the first five years of his career in Green Bay, where he became a fan favorite.

During the 2021-23 seasons, he averaged over 183 carries and just under 730 yards per season as Aaron Jones’ backup. He didn’t miss a game in his second and third seasons in 2021 and 2022. However, a neck stinger late in 2023 ended his season after 15 games.

Dillon looked to return to full health the following year, but another neck stinger in training camp cost him the entire 2024 season.

Dillon signed with the Eagles last offseason as a free agent but he barely saw the field for the then-reigning Super Bowl champions.

He played in the Eagles’ first six games but was buried on the depth chart behind Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley and didn’t suit up again until the team’s Week 17 game when the team rested many starters ahead of the postseason. Dillon was inactive for the team’s playoff game.

Not counting the 2024 season, the seven games he played were a career low. It was the first time he didn’t have a touchdown in a season and he posted career lows across the board.

He’ll attempt at a re-set in Carolina. If Dillon makes the Panthers roster, he’ll face the Packers at Lambeau Field in the 2026 season. The date of the game will be announced in early May. He returned to Green Bay with the Eagles last year but was inactive.

In Carolina, he’ll join a running back room that, heading into the draft, includes incumbent starter Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks and Trevor Etienne.

Dillon will turn 28 on May 2. In addition to his professional news, Dillon had a major personal announcement this week when he and his wife, Gabrielle, revealed they’re having a second child.

AJ Dillon stats with Eagles

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

Who will Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers face in 2026? Their opponents were revealed last month at the end of the 2025 regular season. The times and dates for the 2026 schedule will be announced in early May.

Some observations: They’ll face six teams that made the playoffs in 2025, including at the AFC champion New England Patriots. The Packers match up with all the AFC East and NFC South teams in 2026. Green Bay will also face three teams with new head coaches, including former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who is with the Miami Dolphins.

And Green Bay’s defense better be ready as it will meet the top six offenses from 2025.

Green Bay has nine home games and eight road games.

Scroll this gallery for all the teams on the Packers’ 2026 schedule, starting with the home games and the non-divisional games.

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

And Green Bay’s defense better be ready as it will meet the top six offenses from 2025.

Green Bay has nine home games and eight road games.

Scroll this gallery for all the teams on the Packers’ 2026 schedule, starting with the home games and the non-divisional games.

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

Buffalo Bills: Quarterback Josh Allen will make his first appearance at Lambeau Field since his rookie season in 2018. The Bills had the fourth-ranked offense in 2025. They are one of 10 teams this offseason that has a new head coach.

2025 record: 12-5

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

Miami Dolphins: Former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will return to Lambeau Field in his first year as the Dolphins head coach.

2025 record: 7-10

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

Dallas Cowboys: Quarterback Dak Prescott will bring an explosive Cowboys offense (second ranked in 2025) to Lambeau Field for the first time since the 2022 season. The two teams played to a 40-40 tie during the 2025 season in Dallas.

2025 record: 7-9-1

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

Carolina Panthers: For the second straight season, the Panthers will come to Lambeau Field. The Packers will look to avenge that 16-13 loss to Carolina.

2025 record: 8-9

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

Atlanta Falcons: New coach Kevin Stefanski will bring his Falcons to Lambeau Field.

2025 record: 8-9

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

Houston Texans: Azeez al-Shaair and last season’s No. 1-ranked defense will look to rattle Jordan Love and the Packers offense when they make their second appearance to Lambeau Field in three years.

2025 record: 12-5

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

New England Patriots: The Packers will head to New England to face Drake Maye and the reigning AFC champion Patriots. Green Bay last played the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough in 2018. The Patriots had the third-ranked offense in 2025.
2025 record: 14-3

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

New Orleans Saints: The Packers will face quarterback Tyler Shough and the Saints on the road. Its the first time the Packers will play inside the Caesars Superdome since the 2020 season.

2025 record: 6-11

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

Los Angeles Rams: The Packers travel to the site of Super Bowl 61 for a matchup against Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and the Rams, who had the NFL’s top-ranked offense. It will be the fifth time in six years the Packers and Rams will play in the regular season.

2025 record: 12-5

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Packers head to Florida for a matchup against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers.

2025 record: 8-9

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

New York Jets: The Packers will face Garrett Wilson (5) and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, for the first time since the 2018 season.

2025 record: 3-14

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

Chicago Bears (2): This rivalry is alive. After the teams split the regular-season series with heartstopping finishes and then a wild-card playoff game that featured a massive comeback by the Bears, what will the 2026 season bring us between these two longtime rivals?

Last season, the two teams had to wait until December for their first game. And then they ended up playing each other three times from Dec. 7 to Jan. 10.

2025 record: 11-6

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

Detroit Lions (2): The Packers will look for another 2-0 season against the Lions. The Packers opened last season with a win over the Lions at Lambeau Field and then beat them on Thanksgiving at Ford Field for a second time in three years.

2025 record: 9-8

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Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opponents: Top offenses, new coaches

Minnesota Vikings (2): The Packers will again have to contend with Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson for two games. The teams split the 2025 series.

Vikings record: 9-8

AJ Dillon career stats

(Six total seasons. Five seasons with the Packers – he only played in four due to injury – and one with the Eagles.)

Rushing yards: 2,488 yards

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: AJ Dillon, former Packers running back, signs with Panthers

This former Packers running back, fan favorite signs with a new team

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