4–12, their worst record in franchise history at the time. Kerry Collins, who was dealing with alcoholism, was released following the season. Head coach Dom Capers was also let go after four seasons with the franchise. George Seifert era: 1999–2001 After Dom Capers was let go following the 1998 season, retired coach George Seifert was hired as the second head coach in Panthers history. Seifert had won two Super Bowls as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, and had a reputation for winning with talented and experienced teams. 1999 season The Panthers picked up several players in the 1999 NFL Draft, including defensive end Mike Rucker. In Seifert's first season with the team, the Panthers finished with an 8–8 record, a four-game improvement from the previous season, and their first .500 record in franchise history. Following a 2–5 start, they finished 6–3 in their last 9 games, including a last-second victory over Green Bay where QB Steve Beuerlein ran in for the game-winning score, and a 45–13 home victory over the division rival New Orleans Saints in the final game of the season. However, the team missed out on a wildcard playoff berth through a complicated tiebreaker based on total points scored. The team also had to deal with issues outside of football. Wide receiver Rae Carruth, taken with the Panthers first pick of the 1997 Draft, was arrested in 1999 for conspiring to murder his pregnant girlfriend and was later convicted. 2000 season In the 2000 NFL Draft, safety Deon Grant and linebacker Lester Towns were among the players selected by the Panthers. In Seifert's second season with the team, the Panthers finished 7–9, one game worse than the previous season, and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. They finished third in the NFC West, behind the playoff-bound St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints. Veteran quarterback Steve Beuerlein, who had been the team's starting quarterback since 1998, was released following the season. Tragedy struck the team when former running back Fred Lane, who had been a member of the Panthers for three seasons, was shot and killed by his wife during a domestic dispute in 2000 after signing with the Indianapolis Colts. 2001 season: 15 straight losses Seifert's third and final season with the Panthers was a disaster. After the team released Beuerlein in the off-season Siefert handed the QB reins to Jeff Lewis,