PITTSBURGH — Grant Thorne is the director of performance integration and sports science for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The hire was made following two years with the Tennessee Titans.

Thorne's path to the Steelers included an eight-year tenure as a strength and conditioning assistant with the Green Bay Packers from 2015 to 2023. He previously served as a strength and conditioning consultant for the Packers during the 2013-14 season, a role he took after completing his playing career.

"When I first came to Green Bay with Coach (Mark) Lovat and Coach (Mike) McCarthy, it was as a consultant after I was done playing and getting my feet wet there," Thorne said. He identified Dave Redding, Mark Lovat, and Mike McCarthy as key figures in his professional development.

Prior to his time in Green Bay, he worked as a sports performance coach at Purdue University from 2011 to 2014. He also served as an assistant performance coach at Stanford University in 2011 and completed internships with the San Diego Chargers.

His NFL experience includes work as a performance and monitoring assistant for the New York Jets in 2010 and a consulting role with the same organization. He played college football at Long Beach City College from 2004 to 2005 and at Nicholls State from 2006 to 2007.

He also played in the Arena Football League and for Rugby Union's Sedgley Park Tigers. He noted that he and his brother, Kyle, were among the first in their family to play football. Kyle played at Hofstra University, and the two trained together during his high school years.

"My brother played at Hofstra University, and I was in high school at the time, but we would train together and that's how we started getting better," he said. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a steady approach in high-performance environments.

"You've got to stay even keeled because things are never as bad as they seem and never as good as they seemed as well," he said. He stated that his goal is to help players establish routines that allow for long-term success.

"I want these guys to play as long as they can and be as successful as possible because it makes everybody successful," he said. He added that he aims to serve players in their roles as professionals, family members, and individuals.

His wife, Courtney, is a strength coach. The couple enjoys working out together and participating in outdoor activities such as rock climbing, surfing, and hiking. He said these activities provide opportunities to spend time with his children and family near the water.