Luke August Kuechly (/ˈkiːkli/; born April 20, 1991) is an American former professional football middle linebacker who played all eight seasons of his career with the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Panthers ninth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. Kuechly played college football at Boston College where he was recognized twice as a consensus All-American. After retiring following the 2019 season, Kuechly rejoined the Panthers as a pro scout. Kuechly resigned from his position a year later in 2021.