Terrance Knighton: From NFL Star To Respected College Football Coach
Discover the full journey of Terrance Knighton—from his standout NFL career with the Jaguars and Broncos to his rising success as a defensive line coach at top college programs like Nebraska and Florida State.
Jul 23, 202536.5K Shares487.8K Views
He became one of the NFL’s most unexpected stars, earning the nickname “Pot Roast” for his massive presence and fierce play at defensive tackle. Terrance Knightonplayed seven seasons in the league, appearing in over 100 games and helping the Denver Broncos reach Super Bowl XLVIII. After retirement in 2017, he quickly transitioned to coaching—beginning at Wagner College, advancing to the Carolina Panthers, and then making a high impact at Nebraska as their defensive line coach. In December 2024, Florida State hired him to lead their defensive line, a move widely praised for his proven ability to develop strong, disciplined front lines.
Early Life
Terrance O’Neil Knighton was born on July 4, 1986, in Hartford, Connecticut, and grew up in nearby Windsor. He attended Windsor High School, where he played both tight end and defensive line, and also played varsity basketball. During his senior year, he earned All‑State honorsand Hartford Courant All‑Area recognitionin football, and also earned All‑CCC West League honors in basketball. After high school, he spent a year at Milford Academyin New Berlin, New York, where he played on both sides of the ball and recorded 70 tackles and six sacks.
Knighton received only two scholarship offers and chose to attend Temple University, where he studied for and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, graduating in 2009.
College Career
Terrance Knighton played football at Temple University from 2005 to 2008, becoming one of their key defensive players. As a true freshman in 2005, he appeared in 10 games and even started in the final game, totaling 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble.
In 2006, as a sophomore, he played in 12 games with 11 starts, finishing with 57 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks. He also recovered two fumbles and had four pass breakups.
During his junior year in 2007, he again started most games. He recorded 8.5 tackles for loss, had three fumble recoveries (team-high), and even scored a defensive touchdown by returning one fumble 66 yards.
As a senior in 2008, Knighton was named team captain and first-team All-MAC, the first Temple player ever to earn that honor. He started 11 games, totaled 54 tackles, made 35 solo stops, recovered three fumbles, blocked a kick, and recorded a sack.
By the end of his time at Temple, Knighton had 184 total tackles, 26 tackles for loss, six sacks, 12 passes defended, four blocked kicks, and four forced fumbles. He earned Temple’s Defensive MVP award in both 2007 and 2008.
Professional Career
Terrance Knighton was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguarsin the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He started strong in his rookie year, earning NFL All-Rookie Teamhonors and playing in all 16 games. Over his seven-year playing career, he appeared in 108 games, making 96 starts, and recorded 230 total tackles, 14 sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, and 11 passes defended. He ranked among the top 15 defensive tackles in the NFL in tackles during his time in the league.
In 2013, Knighton signed with the Denver Broncosand played two seasons, starting all 32 regular-season games. He helped the team reach Super Bowl XLVIII, where they were defeated by the Seahawks. Knighton recorded 31 tackles, 3 sacks, one interception, and a fumble recovery during his first year with Denver. In 2015, he signed a one-year deal with the Washington Redskins, played in all 15 games, and continued to contribute on defense.
In 2016, Knighton signed with the New England Patriots, but he was released before the season began. He retired from professional play in April 2017to move into coaching.
That same year, he began coaching as the defensive line coach at Wagner College, holding the position through 2020. In 2021, he joined the Carolina Panthersas an assistant defensive line coach and stayed through 2022. In late 2022, he moved to college football as the defensive line coach at Nebraskafor the 2023 and 2024 seasons. In December 2024, he was hired as the defensive line coach at Florida State University, where he is praised for improving defensive performance and developing strong linemen.
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