North Carolina is hiring veteran NFL quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen to its off-field staff, sources confirmed to FootballScoop on Wednesday. Inside Carolina first reported the news.
Christensen's title remains to be determined, sources said. (Update: A source tells FootballScoop he'll be a volunteer analyst.) He's expected to work with the Tar Heels' offense with an emphasis on quarterback play.
A former Tar Heel himself, Christensen began coaching as a GA at Ole Miss in 1979 and has since and has since served as the quarterbacks coach or offensive coordinator of nine different clubs.
Christensen was the offensive coordinator for Peyton Manning's final three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, then served as the quarterbacks coach for Andrew Luck's first four seasons with the club.
He also served as Tom Brady's final quarterbacks coach, spending the last three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was also a coordinator for Holy Cross, Clemson, the Buccaneers, Colts, and Miami Dolphins.
The 67-year-old Christensen retired from coaching following Tampa Bay's wild card exit from the NFL playoffs this past season, but will now return in a support staff role at his alma mater.
North Carolina returns Drake Maye as its QB1, a possible No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft. As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Maye hit 66.2 percent of his 517 passes for 4,321 yards (8.4 per attempt) with 38 touchdowns against seven interceptions.
Offensive coordinator Phil Longo took the same job on Luke Fickell's new Wisconsin staff over the winter. Mack Brown hired former Troy head coach and Southern Miss, Arizona State, Auburn and UCF coordinator Chip Lindsey to coordinate the offense and coach quarterbacks. Assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway was promoted to passing game coordinator as part of the transition.
Christensen is not yet on campus in Chapel Hill, sources said. North Carolina opens spring practice on Sunday; the spring game is set for April 15.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
