Natrone Means facts for kids

Natrone Jermaine Means (born April 26, 1972) is a former American football player. He was a talented running back in the National Football League (NFL). Means played for teams like the San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Carolina Panthers. His career in the NFL lasted from 1993 to 2000.

Means played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Chargers picked him in the second round of the 1993 NFL draft. In 1994, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl during the Chargers' Super Bowl season. He is also a special member of the San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team. People knew him by nicknames like "Natrone Refried Means" and "Natrone Means Business." Today, he is an assistant coach for the Tar Heels.

Early Life and High School Football

Natrone Means started loving football by watching his older brother practice. He began playing Pee Wee football when he was just 7 years old.

Means went to Central Cabarrus High School in Concord, North Carolina. He joined the junior varsity football team as a freshman in 1986. After only seven games, he moved up to the varsity team. As a sophomore, he played both running back and cornerback. In his first two plays that season, he scored touchdowns from over 60 yards away! He had amazing junior and senior years. In his senior year, he ran for more than 2,300 yards and scored 33 touchdowns. He often played only in the first half of games because his team was so far ahead. Many big universities wanted him to play for them, including the University of North Carolina.

College Football Career

Means attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During his college career, he ran for a total of 3,074 yards. He averaged 5.1 yards every time he carried the ball. He also scored 34 touchdowns. Means caught 61 passes for 500 yards.

He ran for over 1,000 yards in both his sophomore and junior years.

• In 1990, he ran for 849 yards and 10 touchdowns.
• In 1991, he gained 1,030 yards and scored 11 touchdowns.
• In 1992, he rushed for 1,195 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Professional Football Career

Means played for the San Diego Chargers from 1993 to 1995. In 1994, he was selected for the Pro Bowl. That year, he helped lead his team to Super Bowl XXIX. They played against the San Francisco 49ers but lost the game.

During the Super Bowl, Means scored a touchdown. He was 22 years old, making him the youngest player to score a touchdown in a Super Bowl at that time. Later, 21-year-old Jamal Lewis broke his record in Super Bowl XXXV.

The Chargers released Means before the 1996 season. He then signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Means returned to the Chargers in 1998. In 2000, he joined the Carolina Panthers. He retired from playing football at the end of the 2000 season.

In 2009, Means was honored by being named to the San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team. He was also a finalist in 2012 for the Chargers Hall of Fame.

Coaching Career

After his playing career, Natrone Means became a football coach. In 2005, he joined the coaching staff at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina. He started as the running backs coach. In 2006, he became the offensive coordinator. He was recruited by Robert Massey, who had played with Means on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Means also improved his coaching skills by joining the NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Program. He worked with the Atlanta Falcons in 2003 and 2006. In 2007, he was the offensive coordinator at West Charlotte High School. He also worked with the running backs for the Carolina Panthers during their training camp in 2008.

In May 2014, Means became the running backs coach at Winston-Salem State University. He later became the associate head coach and offensive coordinator there. In March 2021, Means joined the North Carolina team as an offensive analyst. In January 2025, he was promoted to running backs coach for the Tar Heels.