Carolina Panthers linebackers coach Mike Siravo has known Luke Kuechly for a long time. In fact, from 2007-12, Siravo served as the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator for Boston College, where Kuechly was a two-time All-American and won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given annually to the best defensive player in college football.
Kuechly made quite an impression on Siravo even then – and not just for his play on the field.
“He is one of the most quality humans you’ll ever meet in your life,” Siravo said on The Zach Gelb Show. “He’s the same guy that I met when we were recruiting him and when he showed up to campus and [was] on that campus for three years. Just a humble servant, just a great person, fun to be around, always great energy, always brings a great, great perspective to bringing his career experience to the table. Just the same guy. Never changed a bit. Never changed.”
Kuechly, the ninth overall pick in 2012, spent his entire eight-year career with the Panthers. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler, a five-time first-team All Pro and, in 2013, was NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Kuechly, 29, retired in January but will serve as a scout for the Panthers. Siravo has greatly enjoyed working with him.
“It’s been great,” Siravo said. “Anytime you go through that change, I think there’s always stress and turmoil, just kind of getting comfortable with ‘Where do I go find the pens?’ – just little things. He has been phenomenal. He seems like he’s really taken to it. Everybody respects his opinion, and he works at it, so it’s been a great transition for him and it’s been fun to be around him while he’s going through that.”
Siravo would love to coach Kuechly in Carolina, but he has not – and would not – try to recruit him out of retirement.
“No, we talk everyday, though, about what’s going on on the field and defensively and the trends in the league and our roster – we talk a lot,” Siravo said. “But no itch there. I would never go down that road. He’s been looking at that for a while, so it’s not something we talk about. Obviously it would be great to have a player like that, but we’ve got some great ones right there to take his spot, so it’s good.”