State. Athletes Several NC State students later became professional athletes. Bill Cowher coached 15 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, including the Super Bowl XL championship team; he is a studio analyst for The NFL Today. Over 130 NC State alumni play or have played in the NFL. Notable former players include Philip Rivers, Don Buckey, Torry Holt, Roman Gabriel, Ted Brown, Dick Christy, Perry Williams, Haywood Jeffires, Vaughan Johnson, Dr. Jerry Punch, Jim Ritcher, Koren Robinson, Dewayne Washington, Jerricho Cotchery, Tank Tyler, and 2006 number one pick Mario Williams. Notable current players include Bradley Chubb of the Miami Dolphins; Nyheim Hines of the Buffalo Bills; Garrett Bradbury of the Minnesota Vikings; Jacoby Brissett of the Cleveland Browns, Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos. Willie Burden was a star player in the Canadian Football League, and is a member of the CFL Hall of Fame. Another 41 alumni have played for the NBA including Naismith Hall of Fame member David Thompson and players Tom Gugliotta, Kenny Carr, Spud Webb, Cedric Simmons, Julius Hodge, J.J. Hickson, Josh Powell, T. J. Warren, Dennis Smith Jr., and Thurl Bailey. Former Wolfpack player Nate McMillan played in the NBA and is the current Head Coach of the Atlanta Hawks, whilst another former Wolfpack player, Vinny Del Negro, both played and coached in the NBA. Justine Lindsay, the first transgender National Football League cheerleader, is also an alumna of NC State. Gallery See also University Statisticians of the Southern Experiment Stations Notes References External links North Carolina State Athletics website Guide to the Robert Jackson Fetner Photographs of North Carolina State College and Pullen Park 1936, undated Land-grant universities and colleges Educational institutions established in 1887 Universities and colleges in the Research Triangle North Carolina State University of North Carolina Universities and colleges in Raleigh, North Carolina 1887 establishments in North Carolina