Texas Longhorns football coach Steve Sarkisian’s people let it leak to The Athletic’s Diana Russini that Sark is “willing” to take an NFL job. Specifically, the Tennessee Titans' job was mentioned.
Tennessee fired Brian Callahan two weeks ago after his team fell to 1-5 following a 20-10 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Interim head coach Mike McCoy isn’t expected to be a serious contender for the Titans’ full-time job.
“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’,” Russini wrote.
Sarkisian going to the BYU Cougars was a rumored possibility that Longhorns legend Jamaal Charles told me wasn’t going to happen ahead of the Red River Rivalry in Dallas. The NFL was not on Sarkisian’s radar at that point. Perhaps it should’ve been for the former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator. 2025 has been a trying season for Sark, who may be overwhelmed by the politics at Texas.
Instead of being a villain in Longhorns lore and leaving for another school, he may opt for the NFL. That’s all well and good for the 51-year-old, but what does it mean for the program’s franchise player?
What happens to Arch Manning if Steve Sarkisian leaves Texas?
It’s unclear if Arch stays or goes in the event Sarkisian leaves Austin for the pros.
If Manning and Sarkisian are on good terms, then one would think Arch could consider the transfer portal. The Oregon Ducks look like a quarterback factory, and if Dante Moore declares for the 2026 NFL draft, Manning could surely get a big payday there. Manning may get the privacy he’s looking for in a west coast city that’s nowhere near as football-crazed as an Athens or Tuscaloosa.
If Manning and Sarkisian aren’t on good terms, perhaps Arch’s sitting behind Quinn Ewers for two years is something the former will always hold against the latter. Manning remaining with Texas could mean a big-name coaching hire this offseason and an all-in investment in Longhorns football.
We’ll see how it plays out. Sarkisian’s having NFL interest could go in many different directions.