David Thornton (American football)

David Dontay Thornton (born November 1, 1978) is a former linebacker who played for the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). In 2012, Thornton joined the Colts as the director of player engagement.

College career
Thornton played college football at the University of North Carolina where he was teammates with Julius Peppers, and Ryan Sims. Originally a walk-on, Thornton's play eventually earned him a scholarship. In his senior year, Thornton was named second-team All-ACC and team MVP.

Indianapolis Colts
Thornton was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Thornton best season came in 2003 when he led the Colts with 145 tackles and made two interceptions. In the 2005 season Thornton made 83 tackles and two quarterback sacks.

Tennessee Titans
He became an unrestricted free agent and signed a five-year deal with the Titans on March 13, 2006. After missing the 2010 season due to a hip injury, he retired on August 5, 2011.

Post-playing career
In 2012, he became the director of player engagement with the Colts. In 2023, he was promoted to Vice President of Player Engagement with the Colts.