Panthers' Jon Rhattigan: Career special teams guy could get his shot on defense

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Among Jon Rhattigan’s 958 career snaps over four NFL seasons, only have 20 have come on defense.

But there’s a great chance the Carolina Panthers’ special teams regular adds to that defensive number against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, when Rhattigan and undrafted rookie Jacoby Windmon are the top options to fill in on a depleted linebacker corps.

The 25-year-old Rhattigan has never started in 49 career games, and Panthers coach Dave Canales wouldn’t say whether Rhattigan will make the start Sunday alongside Josey Jewell. But signs seem to be pointing in that direction, which would be something of a milestone for a former Army standout who’s come back from ACL surgeries on both of his knees.

“He’s a good guy. Works hard,” said Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson, who played with Rhattigan for three years with the Seattle Seahawks.

“The fact that now he finally gets his shot to show what he can do on defense kind of changes how people view you. Everybody just sees him as a special teams guy. I know he’s looking at it (like), ‘This is an opportunity to go show the whole league that I can actually go play defense. I’m not just a core special teamer.’”

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Rhattigan didn’t have a chance to show much of anything in a quick cameo last week against the Dallas Cowboys. He was in for one play on defense when Jewell was in the medical tent near the end of the first half.

The bulk of his defensive reps came last year in the waning minutes of Seattle’s 37-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9 when both teams emptied their benches. Rhattigan was in for 11 snaps and had five tackles — all on running back Justice Hill. It might have been garbage time in a blowout game, but the experience could help Rhattigan on Sunday against Kyler Murray, James Conner, Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Cardinals’ other starters.

Jon Rhattigan spent his first three seasons in Seattle and played in all 17 games a year ago. (Cary Edmondson / Imagn Images)

“I would say the highlight was just being out there, getting comfortable and things calming down. It’s just football at the end of the day,” Rhattigan said. “Ultimately, it’s getting in the right head space and the right mentality. It’s getting to the football. I made a decent bit of tackles.”

Rhattigan grew up in a football family in suburban Chicago, an area known more for its high school basketball. Rhattigan and his two older brothers would play some physical, pickup basketball games while growing up in Naperville, Ill., but football was their passion.

Rhattigan’s oldest brother, T.J., was a linebacker at Penn State, while middle brother Joey played running back at Princeton. Rhattigan had dreams of playing in the Big Ten, and was scheduled to go to Indiana for a game early in the fall of his junior year. But he tore his left ACL the night before, canceled the trip to Bloomington and missed the rest of the season.

He grew his hair out while rehabbing his knee and still had the long locks when he arrived at West Point as a freshman in 2017. That lasted part of a day.

“Nobody said too much to me (about the hair) when I showed up. They barely even get to see it, really,” he said. “As soon as you enter and put a uniform on, your hair is gone before then.”

Rhattigan, who used to watch the Army-Navy game every year, chose Army over Ball State and Princeton. Both of his grandfathers served in the military, but the decision to go to West Point was his.

“With how recruiting went, I kind of took it upon myself,” he said. “I felt like that was definitely the best option for me. Not only as a football player, but as a man, as a leader — everything I wanted to become of myself.”

Rhattigan had a good senior season for the Cadets, including a big game against Middle Tennessee when he recovered a fumble and scored on a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown. After signing with Seattle as an undrafted free agent, Rhattigan played in 14 games as a rookie in 2021 before tearing the ACL in his right knee.

Like he did in high school, Rhattigan again grew his hair out as he recovered. He was back on the Seahawks’ special teams by the end of the 2022 season, and played in all 17 games for Seattle last year.

“He’s gonna come in, he ain’t gonna say too much. He’s gonna work hard, always be on time, be in the right spot,” Jackson said. “So I’ve got faith that he’s gonna come in and do his job.”

When the Seahawks waived Rhattigan in August as part of the final cuts, the Panthers were quick to claim him. Canales and special teams coordinator Tracy Smith were familiar with Rhattigan, the 6-foot, 239-pounder whose 11 special teams tackles are a team high.

But with Trevin Wallace (shoulder) and Claudin Cherelus (toe) placed on injured reserve this week, Rhattigan’s role could expand Sunday.

“Rhattigan’s been playing a lot of teams but he’s been in those (linebacker) meetings, as well,” Canales said. “Could be a great opportunity for guys to get in there and show what they can do, especially at this point in the season. Being around the system, hearing the words. It could be a fantastic opportunity.”

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Safety Nick Scott said having an experienced player like Rhattigan to plug in on defense is beneficial.

“He’s good at what he does, man. He’s a good linebacker, a good teams guy, a veteran,” Scott said. “So guys like that, when you’ve got to throw ‘em in there, you’re not worried about ‘em. He’s not gonna do anything stupid. He’s gonna make plays.”

Whenever Rhattigan’s NFL career is over, he owes the Army five years after deferring his service following his graduation from West Point. But he has more he wants to accomplish in football.

“I’ve always believed in my abilities. I’m glad to accept whatever role is given to me on whatever team I’ve been a part of, and that goes back to my time playing young football, high school football,” said Rhattigan, who now sports shortly cropped brown hair and a beard.

“At the same time, you’ve gotta be ambitious to know that you can expand that role. I’m certainly in my career not where I want to be in terms of reaching my potential. So I definitely feel that any opportunity to play linebacker is the next step in my career.”

(Top photo of Rhattigan: Jim Dedmon / Imagn Images)