Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette has created quite the stir among his teammates and sports fans alike with his recent holiday tradition of serving up raccoon meat. After practice on Thursday, Legette trotted out to the locker room with plastic containers filled with leftover raccoon, delighting and bewildering the players who were curious enough to engage with the unusual delicacy.
"I had some coon. I brought some with me. I'm about to eat it just like this with a spoon," he said, as reported by Darin Gantt and Kassidy Hill of the Panthers' official website. For many NFL players, such viral antics are not unprecedented, but for Legette, this was merely another step to include his teammates in his unique culinary custom.
The rookie receiver, who hails from Mullins, S.C., reminisced about his recent Christmas celebration, where he indulged in raccoon for his holiday meal. "Coon is regular to me. I've been eating it since I came up," he quipped, showcasing his nonchalant relationship with the unconventional meat. His teammates were mostly amused by his boldness, but not everyone was eager to join him on this gastronomic adventure.
Veteran receiver David Moore, among those who dared to try the raccoon, reflected on his experience. "If you've never had it, look alive," he said, earning laughs from his fellow players. After taking his first bite, he added, "It wasn’t on my list of first things to eat this morning. I tried it because he was so 'pressed about it.'" Moore suggested it could have benefited from additional seasonings, joking about how it could be improved with some cracker or maybe some bread.
The surprising menu choice stemmed from Legette's earlier disclosures on the podcast hosted by NFL players Amon-Ra and Equanimeous St. Brown, where he, rather candidly, talked about his festive meal. "Like a raccoon you see in the trash can. I hunt it. I kill it. I skin 'em. Cook 'em. Eat 'em. All of it," Legette stated with pride, as reported by NBC News' Gabriella Rudy.
Not only did Legette’s raccoon sharing generate laughs, but it also sparked curiosity around the league about how Legette, drafted No. 32 overall by the Panthers this year out of South Carolina, has been transitioning from college football to the professional stage. His skills have been evident, accumulating 439 receiving yards and four touchdowns throughout the season. He has also shown versatility, with some action as part of the rushing attack.
Throughout the rookie season, Legette gradually built his profile, racking up notable performances and consistently showing improvement on the field. His multi-faceted playing skills are exemplary of someone who is likely to thrive in the coming seasons, especially as he continues to build chemistry with quarterback Bryce Young.
Despite his burgeoning fame for culinary contributions, the real excitement surrounding Legette remains his potential to grow on the field this Sunday, when the Panthers take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fans have eagerly watched his growth, many becoming increasingly fascinated not only by his skill set but also his unique character—one marked by adventurous food choices.
The buzz about his raccoon offering may just be the tip of the iceberg for Legette, who has already made himself known for his quirky personality. With so many players retweeting and sharing content about their experiences trying raccoon, it’s conceivable Legette’s unusual holiday tradition could influence menus at Bank of America Stadium next season!
Legette may not just return to the locker room podcast with tales of his play on the field; instead, it might become just as common to hear about his culinary endeavors, all the way from the grill to game strategy.
