Former Pitt quarterback Alex Van Pelt is pretty busy with his job in New England, but that proximity will allow him to spend time with the Panthers on Saturday.
Pat Narduzzi announced that Van Pelt will serve as the Pitt honorary captain against Boston College in the regular season finale.
Narduzzi laid out Van Pelt’s credentials in a Twitter:
- 1990, 1991 team captain
- 4-year letterman
- 1989 Sun Bowl MVP
- 1991 All-Big East honoree
- Fifth college quarterback to throw for 2,000 yards in four straight seasons
- Holds records for most pass attempts (64) and passing yards (2,881) and passing touchdowns (17) by a freshman
- No. 2 all-time in career passing yards and completions, No. 4 in career passing touchdowns
Van Pelt spent four seasons as Pitt’s starting quarterback from 1989-92, and he set Pitt’s career passing yardage record — a mark that had stood untouched until the conclusion of Kenny Pickett’s super-senior season this year.
He completed 845-of-1,463 pass attempts (57.8%) for 10,913 yards with 64 touchdowns and 59 interceptions — adding six more touchdowns on the ground. He’s second in career passing yards and fourth in career passing touchdowns in program history.
After his time at Pitt, Van Pelt spent nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills in the NFL before transitioning to coaching.
Van Pelt spent a handful of seasons with the Bills in a variety of positions, including offensive coordinator in 2009, before spending two seasons as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbacks coach from 2010-11.
Upon leaving Tampa, Van Pelt’s long-tenured team became the Green Bay Packers. Van Pelt built a rapport with Aaron Rodgers, spending 2012-13 as the running backs coach and 2014-17 as the quarterbacks coach.
He spent two seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach from 2018-19 before taking over as the Browns offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2020-23.
Van Pelt currently serves as the New England Patriots offensive coordinator.
Van Pelt is the ninth honorary captain for the Panthers this season, joining former offensive lineman Jason Pinkston, former long snapper Cal Adomitis, former offensive lineman Mike McGlynn, former tight end J.P. Holtz, former linebacker Clint Session and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, father-son duo Tony and Anthony Dorsett Jr and offensive lineman Ed Miller.
Pitt and Boston College are set to kick off at Memorial Stadium at 3 p.m. on Saturday, with The CW Network broadcasting the matchup.
