INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. — Two months before the 2026 NFL season kicks off, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker made his way to White Barn Marketplace, an Indian Trail-based furniture store, where he was greeted by plenty of Panthers fan and signed plenty of souvenirs.

The visit to Union County comes after Coker’s marketing agency reached out to White Barn Marketplace owner Barry Curlee about bringing passion to Panthers fans in the area.

Coker said meeting Curlee’s family was a blessing “and for them to invite me out here — everyone’s so kind and nice.”

“The partnership just made sense,” Coker added. “It shows how excited everyone else is to watch Carolina football this year. I’m a small piece of it, but to see everyone come out and support and just be so excited to stand out in the heat and wait, it’s a blessing.”

By the time Coker left the building, Barry and Carrie Curlee counted all the fans that were in attendance: 300, including fans who traveled from all over the state to greet the undrafted wide receiver.

That amazed the Curlees knowing they now have an everlasting friendship with Coker, who signed a three-year, $35 million dollar contract with the Panthers.

When Jalen first reached out to White Barn Marketplace, Barry thought it would be fun to get to know him.

As the Curlees and Coker spent more time together and got to know each other on a more personal level, it became clear that the partnership was about much more than football.

“Jalen’s character is second to none,” Barry Curlee said. “He’s humble, genuine, hardworking, and he carries himself the right way both on and off the field. Having a talented NFL player represent your brand is exciting, but what really closed the deal for us was Jalen the person. His values align with ours at White Barn. We believe in treating people the right way, building relationships, and being involved in the community, and that’s exactly who Jalen is.”

Kaitlynn Carson, a Panthers fan, brought her Jalen Coker jersey for Coker to sign. It made her feel appreciated and more pumped for the next football season.

“It’s pretty cool because my brother and my dad are really big football fans,” Carson said. “They are always cheering them on. When they go to the game, so it’s just like a really cool experience.”

Cole Torrez, another Panthers fan, had Coker sign a Panthers-customized football.

“It’s great to meet a player that I can identify with and get to see on the field and know that he’s part of the team that everyone’s cheering for,” Torrez said. “It’s really nice to have that experience.”

At the end of the day, Coker’s partnership made sense because it wasn’t just about an athlete endorsing White Barn Marketplace, but partnering with someone the Curlees genuinely believe in as a person.

Coker had no regrets bringing the joy that he did on Friday afternoon and looks forward to bringing more joy in his fourth year with the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers kick off the 2026 season at home on Sept. 13 against the Chicago Bears.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned (at White Barn Marketplace) is the value of family, connection and community,” Coker said. “Those are the biggest things that I grew up being raised on. And then to be here and to feel like I’m already part of the family (and) we’re having a good time. It’s not a transactional relationship by any means. It’s all family-based and community-based and that’s what I resonated with a lot. Anything that I can do to put a smile on someone’s face, that’s my favorite part.”