Green Bay Packers

Peppers leaves Packers to return to Panthers

Published Mar. 10, 2017 2:39 p.m. ET

One of Ted Thompson's biggest free-agent signings as Green Bay Packers general manager is headed elsewhere.

Julius Peppers, who was a surprising signing by Green Bay in 2014, is signing with the Carolina Panthers, the team which drafted him in 2002 and where he spent the first eight years of his career.

Peppers' agent made the announcement of Peppers heading back to Carolina on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/CarlCareyPhD/status/840256614418567168

The Packers signed Peppers in March 2014 just days after he had been released by the Chicago Bears in a salary-cap saving move. Thompson's previous biggest free-agent signing was Charles Woodson in 2006. The Packers won the Super Bowl a few years after inking Woodson but could only get as far as the NFC Championship Game with Peppers on the roster.

Peppers, who turned 37 in January, was an unrestricted free agent.

In three seasons with the Packers, Peppers had 104 tackles and 25 sacks, including 10.5 in 2015. Peppers' best season in Green Bay might have been his first with the team when he recorded 44 tackles seven sacks, a career-high 11 passes defensed, two interceptions and four forced fumbles.

Green Bay recently re-signed unrestricted free agent Nick Perry, but could lose Datone Jones as well as Peppers in free agency.