Family Over Football: Ricky Proehl quits coaching Carolina Panthers for sons

Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Ricky Proehl is ditching a pro football gig in favor of the lesser lights.

The former wide receiver resigned from his gig as the Carolina Panthers wide receivers coach Monday. Instead, he'll spend his time watching his two sons play college football. They both play wide receiver.

Austin is a junior at the University of North Carolina. Blake will be a freshman at East Carolina University.

"I always told him when he started at Chapel Hill that if he became a starter or an impact player, that I would walk away to come to all his games," Proehl told Panthers.com. "It would really hurt me to not be there for him.

"The first thing kids do is look back for mom and dad. That doesn't change, no matter how old you are. For the last three years for Austin, I haven't been there when he's looked back. He's got one year left, and I want to be there for him."

He spent four years with the Panthers' wide receivers coach. He doesn't rule out a return to the sidelines in the future.

Proehl, 48, played three of his 17 NFL seasons for the Panthers. He finished his career with 8,878 yards and 54 touchdowns on 669 receptions.

"I'm going to be sitting in my PSLs in section 134," Proehl told Panthers.com. "This organization has been wonderful to me. At the end of the day, I'm still a huge fan."