The last time the North Central College football team saw their national title winning head coach Jeff Thorne was in late October when the team hosted the Refuse to Lose: Cardinals for a Cure game. NCC eventually beat Augustana College that day (76-14), but the slogan, Refuse to Lose, underscored the very qualities that had been buoying him through a tough reality off the field.

Thorne was diagnosed with stomach cancer in February, a tumor that was deemed inoperable. The Naperville resident died on Tuesday at age 52, and is survived by his parents, John and Kathie; his wife, Joanna; and his children, Payton, Noelle and Lauren.

“While Thorne’s accomplishments as a coach are rivaled only by those of his father, John Thorne, and his long-time friend and current head coach, Brad Spencer,” read the Cardinals’ IG account as the account shared Thorne’s heartfelt picture with the national championship trophy. “Thorne will be remembered most for the profound impact he had on countless student-athletes.”

Thorne’s time at North Central began in 2002 as their offensive coordinator, eventually getting promoted to assistant head coach in 2010. While his father, John, was the head coach of the Cardinals from 2002 to 2014 and had led the team 118-30, Jeff, meanwhile, was able to perfect his craft, eventually succeeding his father in 2015, and finally fulfilling his father’s dream to get NCC its first national title in 2019 before stepping down two years later.

During his tenure, the Cardinals accumulated an impressive 65-10 record and made six consecutive Division III postseason appearances. Finally, in 2019, Cardinals embarked on a dominant run and won the national championship, a momentum that has well continued with two more national titles under the leadership of his successor, Brad Spencer.

“Coach Thorne’s impact will not be forgotten by the Bronco family and the world of College Football alike,” Western Michigan posted on its Instagram account with Thorne’s picture from his time at the program with his headset on, his whistle hanging around his neck, and the playbook tucked in his hands.

Thorne joined Western Michigan as their offensive coordinator in 2022 under head coach Tim Lester. Although his stint was brief, lasting just one year, his legacy for the program remains intact, as he led the team to a third-place finish in the MAC West.

Thorne was inducted into NCC’s Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 4. During his final appearance at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, Jeff looked over at his father in what became a very powerful moment. Jeff uttered those same words that John had first coined, and which had become his mantra this entire summer: “I refuse to lose.”

Jeff’s son Payton Thorne opens up about his father’s cancer diagnosis

Football runs deep in the Thorne family, right from John Thorne to Jeff and now Cincinnati Bengals QB Payton Thorne. Payton is the third generation and the son of Jeff, carrying on his father’s illustrious legacy. He was selected as a free agent after the NFL Draft and played for Michigan State and Auburn from 2019 to 2024.

Before his father’s demise, the QB opened up about managing his father’s diagnosis.

“As a few of you know, this February, my father, Jeff, was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer,” said Payton. “He then went through 9 rounds of chemotherapy and was set to have his stomach and the tumor removed earlier this week. I share this today as a request for help and assistance from anybody who may have information or connections on alternative treatments or previous experience with a similar case.”

Jeff’s legacy both on and off the field, remains strong, and the tradition of “Cardinal Manual Meetings” still goes on at North Central. He emphasized not just developing All-American players but All-American people. That was the prime reason why 41 of Thorne’s players won All-America honors during his six years as head coach. Not to forget, during the full Cardinals’ stint, 72 players won the same honors. Jeff’s will be a legacy to be remembered for a long time.