Coach Sarkisian to the NFL?

Why the rumors make more sense than you think.

Steve Sarkisian. Photo Courtesy of On3.

If you are one of those Texas fans thinking “there is no way Sark would get an NFL head coaching job after how bad our offense has been this year”, I’ve got news for you….not only could he, but he would potentially be one of the top offensive-minded candidates on the board.

Here is how I am breaking it down, based on what the current NFL head coach vacancies are, what jobs might open up, who the potential candidates are, and where Sark fits in to the mix.

Head Coach Vacancy

1. New York Giants (Former HC was Brian Daboll, Offensive-Minded)

   1. Team Notes: Jaxson Dart, their first-round draft pick and rookie quarterback, has shown promise. While it has been a revolving door in New York, this is an attractive spot for any candidate.

2. Tennessee Titans (Former HC was Brian Callahan, Offensive-Minded)

   1. Team Notes: The Titans are chaotic. But their owner Amy Adams Strunk, a University of Texas alum, will be looking for a culture builder AND someone to help their number-one-draft pick quarterback Cam Ward. Her previous offensive head coach did not have any play calling experience (Callahan came from the Bengals, where Zac Taylor called plays). I don’t think she will take a chance on that again, and will want proven experience.

Head Coach on the Hot Seat

1. Atlanta Falcons: Raheem Morris (Defensive-Minded)

   1. Why The Seat Is Hot: Quarterback Hell. Can you imagine paying Kirk Cousins over $100 million guaranteed coming off an Achilles injury, then reaching for a quarterback with injury history as your eighth-overall draft pick, bragging about your quarterback succession planning, only to bench Kirk by the end of his first season AND have your quarterback of the future out for the year with his fourth (FOURTH!!!) major knee injury. And for that reason… I’m out.

2. Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor (Offensive-Minded)

   1. Why The Seat Is Hot: Another injury for Joe Burrow. Another lack of investment in the offensive line. Another wasted year. It doesn’t help that Taylor’s “blame the defensive coordinator” card was already used when he fired Lou Anarumo at the end of the 2024 season (we miss you, Lou).

3. Las Vegas Raiders: Pete Carroll (Defensive-Minded)

   1. Why The Seat Is Hot: Pete is a legend. But Mark Davis and Tom Brady are lying to themselves if they don’t see this season as a disaster. I think Pete will likely be asked to retire or step down, similar to how his tenure ended with the Seahawks after the 2023 season.

Head Coach on the Warm Seat

1. Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel (Offensive-Minded)

   1. Why The Seat Isn’t Hot: McDaniel has strung together strong offensive performances and wins the past few weeks. He clearly hasn’t lost the locker room, and his team is playing well for him. My dream scenario would’ve been McDaniel taking on offensive coordinator duties for Coach Sark at Texas. However, it looks like that might stay a pipe dream. If the Dolphins season falls off the rails again, then he’s back to the hot seat. But for now…hat tip to Mike McDaniel!

2. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon (Defensive-Minded)

   1. Why The Seat Isn’t Hot: Honestly, it might be? But the Cardinals are one of the poorest, and most poorly-run organizations in the NFL. I could see them giving Gannon another year or two in order to #1.) Prevent a buyout they can’t afford, and #2.) Give him the opportunity to draft his own quarterback. It’s clear Kyler Murray’s career with the Cardinals is likely done after the latest “soft benching”.

Coach Might Not Be On Hot Seat But Should Be

1. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin (Defensive-Minded)

   1. Why Would It Be Open: Their last playoff win was in 2017…it’s safe to say the Tomlin era peaked a long time ago, and was over the minute Big Ben left the building.

2. Buffalo Bills: Sean McDermott (Defensive-Minded)

   1. Why Would It Be Open: Did you know no head coach and quarterback combination has ever won their first Super Bowl after their first 5 years of being together? Hello year 8 of the Sean McDermott and Josh Allen era.

They Shouldn’t Be On the Hot Seat But There are Some Red Flags + Weird Vibes…

1. Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur (Offensive-Minded)

   1. Why Would It Be Open: Packers President Ed Policy has publicly stated he is opposed to lame duck years for coaches (like the Cowboys + Mike McCarthy last season). The Packers will either extend or cut ties with LaFleur in the off-season, depending on how the team + Jordan Love looks down the stretch and their playoff success (or lack thereof).

2. Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O’Connell (Offensive-Minded)

   1. Why Would It Be Open: This one will not open up this cycle, but I would be remiss not to mention the J.J. McCarthy gamble…It’s clearly not paying off, and the vibe is shifting in a very negative way. Vikings need to find their version of a Brock Purdy lifeboat, or it could get ugly in the future (also, a reminder that Kevin has NEVER won a playoff game).

3. Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh (Special Teams/Football Guy)

   1. Why Would It Be Open: Ravens fans love to complain about him (as a Bengals fan, I would kill to have him!). While my red flags were up at the beginning of the season, it seems like he will cruise to another division title. I’ll never understand why the Ravens would want him gone. Who do you even replace him with? Which leads me to my next segment…

Who Are The Top Head Coach Candidates?

The 2025 NFL hiring cycle was a really, really strong candidate pool. The 2026 candidate pool…well, there is no clear offensive guru like Ben Johnson, or seasoned slam-dunk-hire like Mike Vrabel, available. Here is who I view as some of the current candidates:

1. Robert Saleh: Defensive Coordinator San Francisco 49ers

   1. I view Saleh as the TEMU or Amazon version of Mike Vrabel for this hiring cycle. He doesn’t have the resume of Vrabel, but there is no denying the seismic drop-off on the Jets after he was fired. This season, his value to the 49ers is clear, as they are still in the playoff hunt despite everyone and their mother being on IR. He would be a solid hire in the right situation.

2. Jesse Minter: Defensive Coordinator Los Angeles Chargers

   1. He is a rising star and has done a great job with the Chargers defense, taking them from worst in the league in 2023 to leading the NFL in 2024.

3. Someone on Sean McVay’s Staff: Offensive or Defensive Los Angeles Rams

   1. Almost every cycle someone is poached from his staff…there are not a lot of names being floated out there, except Chris Shula, the defensive coordinator. However, it’s a safe bet to assume there is SOMEONE from McVay’s staff that will get a shot, or at least a few interviews.

4. Brian Flores: Defensive Coordinator Minnesota Vikings

   1. This one is a little controversial, because he is currently suing the league. But, there’s no doubt he was right in his analysis of Tua as a quarterback, and he has excelled in Minnesota. I would love Brian for my Bengals, or to at least see him get another chance somewhere else. His toughness and mentality as a head coach is missed!

5. Joe Brady: Offensive Coordinator Buffalo Bills

   1. Brady was a hot candidate two years ago, a lukewarm candidate last year, and this year….I’m not sure. But given there are few other offensive-minded options, it’s possible he gets a chance. He might even be encouraged to take a look based on the regression of the Bills this year. I think the Bills inconsistencies are due to the GM/lack of personnel, not Brady. Regardless, his name is not as “hot” as it once was.

6. Jeff Hafley: Defensive Coordinator Green Bay Packers

   1. He has been a home-run coordinator hire for Matt LaFleur, and his defense continues to improve. He has head coaching experience from the collegiate level at Boston College, and came to the NFL as a coordinator due to the grind of the college football calendar.

7. Jon Gruden: Former Offensive Guru, Current Media Personality

   1. Another controversial prospect. Look, we all love Gruden. But as long as he is in litigation with the league, and winning in court, they aren’t letting him back in.

8. Last but not least, Steve Sarkisian: Head Coach The University of Texas

   1. Sark is a culture builder, a winner, and most importantly, an offensive play caller. He has NFL offensive coordinator experience from a short stint with the Atlanta Falcons, and while it didn’t end great, it served as a stop-gap between his USC exit and getting his life back on track. Sark has proven he can win with multiple quarterbacks at multiple programs, and his scheme is similar to Kyle Shanahan + Mike McDaniel. The pro-style offense Sark uses is tough for college students to grasp, but is extremely popular in the NFL because of its quarterback-friendly nature.

Where Does Steve Sarkisian Fit Into All Of This?

Out of the eight candidates listed, five are defensive guys, two have lawsuits against the league, and one is potentially being shown the door from his current offensive coordinator role.

As I really look at the current openings, potential openings, and who the likely candidates are, why wouldn’t NFL teams want someone like Coach Sark? In my opinion, he’s second only to Robert Saleh of the current candidates on my list. With both current openings having rookie quarterbacks that will need mentoring and development, Sark seems like a great candidate for either.

Reading the Tea Leaves

Whether you choose to believe it or not, Sark wanting to coach in the NFL has real smoke. One of the first smoke signals came from Dianna Russini, when she dropped this nugget at the bottom of a report Friday night in October on The Athletic:

“I’m told that representatives for Texas coach Steve Sarkisian have let NFL decision-makers know that he would be interested in potential head-coaching openings, including the Titans.”

She then doubled down on this report the next morning with a tweet that shook College Gameday, and was refuted (somewhat) by Sark’s agency, CAA.

Cue the next smoke signal on Monday morning, November 17th, when fellow CAA member Desmond Howard posts an easter-egg filled, Taylor Swift style Instagram video with “TENNis balls,” alluding to a “mutual separation” between Texas football and Coach Sark. A few hours after the initial Instagram post, Des doubled down and shared the video to his Twitter profile, where it gained max exposure.

It is very peculiar that the formula followed was the exact same in both instances… Quietly drop the tidbit at the end of article/video. Post article/video to audience on The Athletic/Instagram. Then repost to Twitter hours later for more exposure.

While I can only imagine who the source is, I feel pretty sure we will have more clarity on this entire situation after Black Friday.

Final Thoughts

From Sark’s pro-style scheme to the NFL showing him plenty of interest in the past, the reports coming out the past few weeks are not just a coincidence or clickbait. With a newborn baby at home and the grueling demands of being a college football coach, I understand why the NFL interest would be there from Coach Sark. As a Texas fan, I would hate to lose him. But as a human who values my family life more than anything, I get it.

As the coaching carousels in college football and the NFL continue to heat up, I will keep reading the tea leaves and sharing my thoughts here and on Twitter @michellelynnn94.

Hookem!

- Michelle