Before he became a rising star as a scout and executive in league circles, and even before his playing days in the NFL, new Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon played college ball at Florida.
And his head coach for two of his years there was none other than Steve Spurrier, who recently recalled what Carthon was like during his college days, per Jim Wyatt of the TennesseeTitans.com.
“Ran [Carthon] was always a great teammate, and he did everything the coaches asked,” Spurrier said. “I always remember him being such a wonderful young man, conscientious. You knew he was going to be successful at whatever he chose to do in life.”
Over 20 years after Carthon last played a snap for Spurrier, the pair were reunited at an event the San Francisco 49ers held in 2022. Spurrier said he had no idea Carthon worked for the team.
“This past football season, the 49ers had a reunion of their 1972 team, which was the team I played on 50 years ago, and I saw Ran at the 49ers facility at the walk-through practice,” Spurrier explained. “He came up and introduced himself and, to be completely honest with you, I didn’t know he was out there.
“But we got a chance to talk a little bit, and it was great to catch up. I was really happy for his success. Ran told me then he got a chance to interview for some general manager positions. I could tell he was ready and prepared, and that it was something he was passionate about. I wished him luck.”
Spurrier added he’d be “pulling for the Titans for sure” now that Carthon is the lead man in the front office, and says he hopes the 41-year-old “does great.”
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