Chuba Hubbard and John Metchie III, both originally from Canada, have found a unique bond as teammates on the Carolina Panthers, according to a May 4 announcement. The two athletes grew up thousands of miles apart in Edmonton, Alberta and Brampton, Ontario but were aware of each other due to their shared path toward American football.
Their connection is notable because Canadian players with NFL aspirations have historically been rare. Both left Canada for opportunities in the United States—Metchie attended high school before playing at Alabama, while Hubbard went to Oklahoma State. Now reunited in Charlotte as members of the Panthers, they say their shared background has made it easier for Metchie to adjust after joining the team this spring.
“We’ve known each other without knowing each other,” said Metchie. “We’ve known each other for a long time before actually.” Hubbard added: “Metchie, he’s a dog. Once I saw we signed him, I was excited. I was telling him, I probably known about him since I was 16 years old… So to be able to be on the same team and kind of share memories about each other that we knew of but didn’t actually know each other, it’s cool.” The two now enjoy sharing experiences specific to Canadians living abroad and hope to bring more Canadian culture into the team’s environment.
The pair are both winners of the Jon Cornish Trophy in college football and are now working together not only on the field but also advocating for Canadian food traditions within the organization. “We might have to get some poutine in there and some other stuff,” suggested Hubbard when talking about menu options with director of culinary Tracie Hartman.
The Carolina Panthers play home games in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina according to their official website. The team has secured multiple division titles and playoff appearances according to its official website. They provide season tickets as well as single-game tickets and premium seating options according to their official website. The franchise extends its presence throughout North and South Carolina according to its official site while emphasizing building a championship culture alongside community outreach efforts as reported by their official website.
Reflecting on his new teammate’s support system far from home, Metchie said: “It helps tremendously… As far as like comfort, a whole new environment, people you’re comfortable with, people that help you get acclimated quicker. In this case, it’s somebody that’s a sense of home.”
