David Thornton joins UNC's football staff

Posted Aug 15, 2011
Former All-ACC selection David Thornton, who recently retired from the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, has officially returned to the UNC football team as a member of the player development staff. According to a team spokesman, that means he can splice and analyze UNC or opponent video, attend meetings and work with athletes in football-specific strength and conditioning drills – but he cannot coach or provide instruction to the athletes. (Raleigh News & Observer)

Related: Football, Tar Heels in the NFL

Former UNC Running Back Elijah Green Building Mental Health Blueprint for College Athletics
"Everybody talks about mental health," Elijah Green said. "You see the awareness campaigns. But we’re not giving athletes the tools they need. We’re not making...
Fri Jun 12, 2026

UNC Football icon and philanthropist Don Stallings passes away at 87
Don Stallings, a former NFL player who turned towards business, has passed away at age 87. Fondly known as “Big D” and “Coal Bucket,” he...
Thu Jun 11, 2026

Aer Lingus College Football Classic 2026: Much More Than A Game
The University of North Carolina will host or participate in business, cultural, academic, athletic, and arts events in Dublin, Ireland, the week leading up to...
Thu Jun 11, 2026

Video: IC Podcast - UNC's Defensive Line - The Superlatives
College football analyst Jason Staples joins Tommy Ashley of Inside Carolina to discuss UNC's defensive line scouting report while highlighting the group's superlatives: The Alpha,...
Thu Jun 11, 2026