J.J. Jansen is on track to create more distance between himself and other Panthers in the franchise’s games-played column. The veteran long snapper will be back for another go-round in Charlotte next season.

The Panthers re-signed the 15-year veteran to a one-year deal on Friday, The Athletic’s Joseph Person notes. This will be Jansen’s sixth contract agreement as a member of the Panthers, who acquired the specialist via trade from the Packers back in 2009.

A 2013 Pro Bowler, Jansen has opted to sign one-year deals in recent years. The Panthers signed off on a four-year extension in 2012 and a five-year re-up in 2016. Since 2021, however, Jansen has gone year to year. The former Green Bay UDFA is going into his age-38 season.

Jansen reached 243 games played last season; that sits 22 north of John Kasay‘s previous Panthers standard. Among active Panthers, Shaq Thompson is the closest — at 119. Among active long snappers, Jansen leads the pack in terms of appearances, having also added seven playoff games.

While various issues can plague long snappers, this is one of the most stable positions in sports. Mastering this skill can lead to a steady gig toward age 40, and Jansen is as reliable as they come. The Notre Dame alum has never missed a game since debuting with Carolina 15 years ago. A near-vet-minimum salary will await Jansen, as it does all long snappers. The Panthers paid their third specialist $1.32MM last season.

Number 44 will be coming back for yet another year in Panther blue, according to Panthers staff writer Darin Gantt. Career Panther and longtime long snapper in Carolina J.J. Jansen has re-signed with the Panthers on a one-year deal. Going into his 15th season in Charlotte, Jansen’s longevity holds significance for several reasons.

First of all, Jansen is the longest-tenured player on the team. Not only that, he is also one of the longest-tenured Panthers of all time. His 15th year in Carolina will match that of former teammate, and fellow special teamer, kicker John Kasay, who played 15 seasons with the Panthers in 16 years (he missed the 2000 season with a broken kneecap). Despite having completed one fewer season than Kasay, Jansen surpassed Kasay in total games played with Carolina this past season, finishing the season with 226 games played, five more than Kasay’s total of 221.

Jansen’s new contract ensures that he will be making an attempt to come back next year and break his own record with each game played. What’s more impressive is that Jansen’s 226 games played are consecutive, meaning, since he joined Carolina, he has yet to miss a single game. Coming back next season will give him a chance to move up the list of most consecutive games played all-time. He currently ranks 21st all-time in that category and 17 more regular season games would place him in a tie at 10th will former linebacker Bill Romanowski. Jansen ranks second in the category for active players, 32 games behind longtime Packers kicker Mason Crosby.

“To do this another year, we’re just really grateful to be back,” Jansen told Gantt. “I’m loving the coaching I’m getting from Chris Tabor, love playing with Johnny Hekker, and to be able to work with kickers like Zane Gonzalez and Eddy Pineiro the last two years has been great.”

Jansen is clearly excited to continue working with Tabor, who was retained by new head coach Frank Reich. He also mentioned an ambition to play under Reich for years to come. Four years to be exact, according to Jansen. Although that continued longevity is not insinuated by his new one-year contract, the deal is a veteran contract which qualifies for a break against the salary cap and doesn’t reflect whether or not the team wishes to retain Jansen long-term.

Playing four more 17-game seasons would put Jansen at 294 consecutive games played, good for 3rd all-time behind only former punter Jeff Feagles (352) and former quarterback Brett Favre (299). The road to third will start in September when Jansen kicks off Year 15 of his career.

The Panthers now have their long snapper under contract for at least one more season, coming to terms with J.J. Jansen on another new deal Wednesday.

Carolina’s deep snapper since 2009, Jansen agreed on a one-year extension through the 2022 slate. This does not necessarily assure Jansen of keeping his job next season, with the Panthers using a draft choice on a long snapper — Thomas Fletcher — in 2021. But this does renew that competition for another year.

Fletcher spent last season on IR, tabling a competition with Jansen. However, the 2021 sixth-round pick won the Patrick Mannelly Award for the nation’s best long snapper while at Alabama. He would certainly represent competition for Jansen, despite the latter’s lengthy run with the Panthers. Fletcher is under contract through 2024.

Jansen has played in every Panthers game since beginning his long-snapping tenure with the team in 2009. His 209 regular-season games trail only John Kasay (221) for most in team history. Jansen, 36, made the Pro Bowl in 2013. He signed a five-year extension in 2016 and returned to Carolina on a one-year deal in 2021.