CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – Carolina Panthers legends Luke Kuechly and Steve Wilks were apparently spotted at a UNC Charlotte football practice.
In pictures shared by the university Football social media accountsKuechly was observed apparently talking to the team during a practice session where Wilks was also present.
The appearance comes less than a week after it was announced that Kuechly – a former All-Pro linebacker with the Panthers – will serve as a game analyst for select college football games on the CBS Sports Network next season.
It’s unclear which games Kuechly will commentate for the network, but Charlotte’s Oct. 19 game against Navy will be broadcast on the channel.
Wilks, wearing a green 49ers T-shirt, is allegedly an unofficial consultant to the team this season. He was fired by the San Francisco 49ers in February after serving as their defensive coordinator during the 2023 season, which ended in a Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kuechly and Wilks were both with the Panthers from 2012 to 2018, with Wilks holding various defensive coaching roles, including coordinator in 2017.
Wilks returned to Carolina in 2022 as an assistant before being named interim coach for the final 12 games of the season. After taking over, he posted a 6-6 record and was passed over for the permanent position after Panthers owner David Tepper opted to hire Frank Reich instead.
As for UNC Charlotte, the 49ers are coming off a rough 3-9 season that saw them finish at the bottom of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) standings.
Charlotte will open its 2024 season at home against James Madison on August 31.
Related: Panthers legend Luke Kuechly joins CBS Sports as analyst
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