Inside The Panthers

Former Pitt QB Returning to Broncos

Former Pitt Panthers quarterback Ben DiNucci has locked up his spot with an NFL squad for next season.

Stephen Thompson

Former Pitt QB Returning to Broncos
Former Pitt QB Returning to Broncos /
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PITTSBURGH -- Former Pitt Panthers quarterback Ben DiNucci is off to a hot start this offseason, having already locked up his spot with an NFL team for next season before this one is officially over. 

After his Denver Broncos fell short of a playoff spot, DiNucci, a Western Pennsylvania native who played at Pitt for three seasons, announced on Twitter that he had re-signed with the Broncos for another season. Financial terms have not yet been disclosed. 

In three preseason appearances last summer, DiNucci completed 21 of 31 passes for 187 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions and added five rushes for 23 yards for good measure. 

He did not appear in a game for the Broncos and spent the 2023 season on the practice squad. But DiNucci has some starting experience from his time with the Dallas Cowboys and could compete for playing time with Denver expected to move on from starter Russell Wilson. 

DiNucci's 12 games at Pitt came with six starts. For his Panthers career, he completed 91 of 167 passes (54.5%) for 1,107 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions. 

After transferring to James Madison, he became a star for the Dukes. He was serviceable in 2018 before really experiencing a breakout year in 2019. he completed 71% of his 378 attempts for 3,441 yards, 29 touchdowns and just six interceptions while also rushing for 569 yards and seven more scores on the way to AFCA first-team All-American and CAA Player of the Year honors.

After leading the Dukes to the FCS National Championship Game, DiNucci was drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, where he made one spot start before flaming out.

DiNucci has revitalized his career in the XFL with Seatle. This season, he led the league in passing with 2,671 yards, completed 64% of his passes and threw for 20 touchdowns, the second-best mark in the league.

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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