Inside The Panthers

Pitt Loses Charlie Partridge to NFL

The Pitt Panthers suffered a crushing blow to their coaching staff this week.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Loses Charlie Partridge to NFL
Pitt Loses Charlie Partridge to NFL /
In this story:

PITTSBURGH -- It appears that the Pitt Panthers' legendary defensive line coach, Charlie Partridge, will leave Pittsburgh to take a new job at the next level of football. 

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi released a statement this week wishing Patridge well as he departs the program and pursues a new opportunity in the NFL.  

“As a coach and mentor, Charlie Partridge has been vital to our program’s rise over the past seven years," Narduzzi said. "When I hired him back in 2017, I had high aspirations for the type of impact he would make for us. True to form, Charlie surpassed even those expectations. His influence on our players, on and off the field, is well known. Speaking personally, Charlie has been a tremendous confidant, advisor and friend, and I’ll always be grateful for that. The National Football League is getting a great coach and an even greater man. On behalf of our entire program, I wish him and his family only the very best.”

Narduzzi's statement did not specify where Partridge would be headed but FootballScoop.com reported shortly after that he would join the Indianapolis Colts' coaching staff.

Partridge's defensive line units have been routinely one of the best on this team. He earned National Defensive Line Coach of the Year honors from Football Scoop twice in 2020 and 2022 for his work developing All-American talents like Calijah Kancey, Rashad Weaver and Patrick Jones II. 

Jaylen Twyman earned second-team All-American honors in 2019 under Patridge's instruction and was later drafted by the Minnesota Vikings. Habakkuk Baldonado and Deslin Alexandre also signed NFL contracts last offseason after five years being coached by Partridge. 

NFL stars Trey Flowers and J.J. Watt were also coached by Partridge during their college days. 

Pitt's defensive line has ranked in the top three nationally in sacks in four of the last five seasons and totaled at least 23 sacks as a team in each of the past six seasons. 

Patridge will bring previous coaching experience from Florida Atlantic, Wisconsin and Arkansas to the professional level. This is his first NFL coaching job. 

The Panthers reloaded their defensive line this offseason after some critical losses, but they will now be coached by a different man in 2024. 

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Kevin Durant Shouts Out Legendary Pitt PG

Raiders Hire Former Pitt QB

Pitt Makes Dramatic Leap in ACC Standings

Pitt Playing Best Ball at Right Time

Pitt's Defense Shines in Win Over Notre Dame

Pitt Records 300th Win at Petersen Events Center

Published
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:

Home/Football