Ryan Hoffman left behind many questions for those who knew him
Posted Dec 2, 2015
Ryan Hoffman and his family believed that the hits he took during his football career had profoundly damaged his brain, and they were sure that the sport had caused him to unravel, thread by thread, until there was hardly anything left for him to live for. He had been a physical marvel once: a 6-foot-5, 287-pound left tackle for North Carolina in the 1990s, a starter for a team ranked in the top 10.
(New York Times)
Related: Football, Football Recruiting
Podcast: UNC vs. Miami Recap, Men's & Women's Basketball Previews, Olympic Sports UpdateThe Ultimate Tar Heel Podcast, Episode 28: Football coaches get an A, Billy Edwards was a star, officiating was unacceptable, need to switch conferences, Men's...
Mon Nov 2, 2026Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Moral Victory or Turning Point?
UNC Football narrowly falls to No. 1 Miami in a heart-stopping 38-35 battle. Is this narrow loss a sign of true progress or just another...
Mon Nov 2, 2026
Tar Heels in NFL: Drake Maye sparks second-half comeback with three TDs; Josh Downs scores
Drake Maye needed a half to find his footing in Miami. Once he did, the former UNC quarterback supplied every touchdown New England needed. Maye...
Mon Nov 2, 2026
Even After Taking No. 1 Down to the Wire, the 24-Hour Rule Still Applies for UNC Football
Objectively speaking, North Carolina's 38-35 loss to No. 1 Miami Saturday was a heck of a football game. UNC quarterback Billy Edwards and Miami quarterback...
Mon Nov 2, 2026