Report: Texas HC Steve Sarkisian Expected to Draw Interest from NFL Teams After CFP
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacek
Featured Columnist IVJanuary 5, 2025
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is two wins away from lifting the trophy as a College Football Playoff national champion, and his next move after that title pursuit reportedly could involve the NFL.
"I would expect some teams to call and inquire about Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, who has drawn some interest from the NFL level," ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday (5:25 mark).
While Sarkisian is best known for his time in the college ranks, he does have some NFL experience.
He was the quarterbacks coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2004 and was also the offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons for two seasons in 2017 and 2018. The 2017 Falcons finished eighth in the league in yards and made the playoffs, while the 2018 Falcons finished sixth in the league in yards but missed the postseason in large part because of a poor defense.
Sarkisian has made a name for himself as a head coach in college, though. He led the Washington Huskies from 2009-13, the USC Trojans in 2014 and 2015, and the Longhorns since 2021.
Texas has improved in each of his four seasons, which started with a 5-7 effort. Since then, it went 8-5 in 2022 and reached the CFP in each of the last two seasons.
A move to the SEC didn't stop the program's momentum in 2024, as the Longhorns went 11-1 during the regular season and reached the conference title game before defeating Clemson and Arizona State in the first two rounds of the CFP.
Next up is a showdown with the red-hot Ohio State Buckeyes for a chance to play in the national championship game.
Sarkisian is known as an excellent offensive mind, and Texas has averaged 34.3 points per game this season. It scored a combined 77 points in its first two playoff games and has key playmakers in quarterback Quinn Ewers, wide receiver Matthew Golden and running back Quintrevion Wisner leading the way.
While Sarkisian would be an outside-the-box hire, he has proven himself under the bright spotlight at Texas and has some NFL experience. He would also likely provide a boost to whichever offense he took over and is reportedly on the NFL's radar at this point.
