The 2002 Carolina Panthers season was the eighth season for the team in the National Football League. They tried to improve upon their 1-15 record in 2001, and make it to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history. The Panthers would improve six games, but would not escape the cellar, despite moving from the NFC West to the NFC South, finishing 7-9, five games behind the division champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.