Report: Terrance Knighton is being hired as new defensive line coach

First reported by Joe Person of The Athletic, Terrance Knighton is reportedly headed to Lincoln to join new head coach Matt Rhule’s staff as the defensive line coach. Before we get into his more detailed biography/resume, here is a video of him ragging on his defense for not stopping the crap team that is the local NFL franchise where I live for your viewing pleasure.

Knighton has served as a coaching assistant for the Carolina Panthers under Rhule since the start of the 2021 season. He has been working with the defensive lineman since Paul Pasqualoni was fired on Nov. 11.

Prior to his stint in Charlotte with the Panthers, Knighton was the defensive line coach at Wagner from 2019-2020. The Eagles went 1-11 (1-6 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) in 2019 and 0-2 (MAAC schedule only) in an abridged spring “2020” season in March 2021.

Notably from his coaching resume to date, Knighton has not worked long with Rhule. However, Knighton is a Temple graduate where he played all four years, becoming a team captain as a senior in 2008. His sophomore season coincided with Rhule’s first job with Temple as a defensive line coach in 2006. Rhule later moved on to quarterback coach and recruiting coordinator in Knighton’s junior season and swapped recruiting coordinator for offensive coordinator starting in 2008 during Knighton’s senior season, however. But Rhule remained on staff during the remainder of Knighton’s time with the Owls.

Knighton was drafted in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft as the 72nd overall pick and played seven seasons on an active roster and a final season on the practice squad for the New England Patriots. He started out with the Jackson Jaguars (2009-2012), Denver Broncos (2013-2014), and ended his career with the then Washington Redskins (2015).