Panthers OT Taylor Moton is asked if he's thinking about retirement

Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Taylor Moton might've done his best version of the ol' "I'm not leaving" meme on Tuesday.

The veteran hog molly took some time out from the team's offseason workout program this afternoon to talk with reporters. He was asked, with his age-32 season coming up, if the prospect of retirement is anywhere in sight.

"Retirement's not on my mind right now," Moton replied with a smile. "Ultimately, I feel great running around with all the 'young' guys. I feel like I'm young, I feel like I'm moving well, and I'm feeling like I'm still in my prime. I don't feel like I'm slowing down.

"Every year I come in, I work to have my best season yet—and that's not changing going into Year 10."

Well, Year No. 9 may have been one of Moton's best. In 2025, the longtime starting right tackle earned an overall offensive grade of 80.9 from Pro Football Focus—the second-highest such mark of his NFL career.

During the summer of that campaign, Moton—in a presser at training camp—got emotional when speaking about the future of his playing career. That particular afternoon led many to believe that the former second-round pick was contemplating retirement.

But that doesn't seem to be the case for him now, as he reflected upon his current standing as a mentor and leader in the locker room.

"I feel like you grow, in different aspects," Moton stated. "Especially being a leader—what works, what reciprocates, what doesn't, things like that. I might not go into quite the details and all the stories I have.

"But ultimately, that's part of the growth—being a better leader, finding ways to get guys where they wanna go and get the best of them, and where I fall into that role, the best way I can help."

Moton will enter the 2026 season with two years remaining on his contract with Carolina.