The league stated that all NFL personnel are expected to uphold a code of conduct that respects the fans and positively reflects on their team and the NFL itself.

The incident in question took place at EverBank Stadium, where a video posted on social media captured Tepper throwing a drink into the stands from his open-air suite following an interception thrown by Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young. The NFL deemed this behavior unacceptable and promptly imposed a substantial fine on Tepper.

Although the NFL announced the fine and the reason behind it, Tepper did offer a response. In his statement, he expressed regret for his actions and acknowledged his deep passion for the team. He conceded that he should have let NFL stadium security handle any issues that arose and stated his respect for the league's code of conduct. However, noticeably absent from his statement was an explicit apology for his behavior.

This is not the first instance of Tepper's behavior drawing attention. On November 26, Panthers beat reporters overheard Tepper yelling an expletive as he exited the locker room after a Week 12 loss. The very next day, he made the decision to fire head coach Frank Reich, marking the third in-season firing of a head coach since 2019.

Since acquiring the Panthers for a staggering $2.75 billion in 2018, Tepper has been keen on turning the team's fortunes around. However, the franchise has experienced six consecutive losing seasons under his ownership, making it a source of frustration for both Tepper and the fans.

It remains to be seen how this latest incident and subsequent fine will impact Tepper's role within the organization and his approach to managing the team. While his passion for the Panthers is evident, his conduct on the sidelines will undoubtedly come under closer scrutiny moving forward.