The 2003 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's 9th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the second under head coach John Fox. They improved on their 7–9 record from 2002, and made it to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history. The Panthers, for the first time in franchise history, advanced to the Super Bowl, but lost 32–29 to the New England Patriots on a last-second field goal by kicker Adam Vinatieri.