The Green Bay Packers saw one of their former fan favorites get a brand new opportunity on Wednesday. AJ Dillon, who spent the first four years of his career with Green Bay, has new home for the 2026 season.
The news comes just a few months after the Philadelphia Eagles made it clear they were not bringing him back after the 2025 season.
Former Green Bay Packers Running Back AJ Dillon Signs With NFC Foe For 2026
The Carolina Panthers have added veteran running back AJ Dillon on a one-year deal, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The former Green Bay Packers mainstay and Philadelphia Eagles backup now heads south to provide depth and experience in a backfield that lost Rico Dowdle in free agency.
Dillon, 28 in May, spent last season as Saquon Barkley’s backup in Philadelphia but saw very limited action — just 12 carries for 60 yards across the year. He was placed on injured reserve in August 2025 without a return designation, effectively ending his season before it began.
AJ Dillon’s Journey: Packers to Eagles to Panthers
Dillon was a second-round pick by the Packers in 2020 and became a fan favorite in Green Bay for his physical style and reliability between the tackles. After several productive seasons as a complementary back, he signed with the Eagles in 2025.
Now with the Carolina Panthers, Dillon joins a backfield that includes incumbent Chuba Hubbard (signed through 2028 on an $8.3 million-per-year deal) and 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks. Hubbard was briefly demoted in 2025 to give Dowdle more work, but remains the lead back. Brooks, however, has battled injuries — suffering two ACL tears since 2023 and missing all of last season — making Dillon’s veteran presence a valuable insurance policy.
What AJ Dillon Brings to the Carolina Panthers Backfield
At his best, Dillon has proven to be a tough between-the-tackles runner who can handle early-down work and short-yardage situations. While he hasn’t been a featured back since 2023 with the Packers, his limited touches in recent years mean he should be relatively fresh. This could be a positive for a team needing a dependable No. 2 or No. 3 option.
The one-year deal is low-risk for Carolina and gives Dillon a chance to prove he still has something left in the tank as he enters his seventh NFL season.
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