How is this even fair?
For a few seasons, NFL greats Greg Olsen (former tight end) and Luke Kuechly (former linebacker) have been coaching a youth football team in the Charlotte area, and if I recall correctly, their team made it all the way to the championship on at least one occasion.
But apparently, the former Carolina Panthers legends are now coaching a Charlotte are middle school team, along with former Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart. Greg’s son, Tate, plays on the middle school team too.
Greg is the head coach, and Kuechly and Stewart are assistants.
An NFL fan account shared a photo of them out on the field, and according to the Charlotte Observer, all three of them are on the coaching staff and Charlotte Christian second-year high school head coach Chris James says they’re looking forward to a great year:
“Yeah, I think we have the makings of a great team this year. The problem is, we have a couple of nationally ranked teams in our division.”
Well if Luke, Greg and Jonathan can’t help give them an edge, something has gone terribly wrong… I mean, Luke could become a first-ballot Hall of Famer next year, and Greg might have a chance to find himself there one day, too.
Charlotte Christin has always been one of the best high school teams in the area, winning four straight Independent Schools Athletic Association Championships from 2017-2020. Though it sounds like the middle school team might be on their way up too…
Olsen told the Observer that he knows the other teams are going to give them “a run for their money”
“Chris (James) is doing a great job, and we’re trying to work with him The kids we have are great. They really want to learn.
Oh, I know we’re going to get each team’s best shot. But that’s the fun of playing football. The kids will learn and get better.”
While I selfishly do wish they could all join the Panthers coaching staff, I completely understand why they wouldn’t want to, and I’m certain they will be the team to beat as football gets going again… if Charlotte Christian middle school goes undefeated this season (or close to it) don’t be surprised:
imagine playing middle school football and this is your coaching staff 🤯 pic.twitter.com/jqVfMTRtLF
— griffin zetterberg 📸 (@GriffinZett) August 30, 2024
And a couple years ago, Luke and Greg were mic’d up during an -year old tackle football game they played during different Panthers game at Bank of America stadium, and it’s pretty great footage and look at their coaching styles:
