Steve Sarkisian has been the head coach at Texas since 2021, but the Longhorns boss is reportedly considering his options for a move to the NFL
13:40 ET, 25 Oct 2025Updated 13:40 ET, 25 Oct 2025
Head coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns watches players warm up before the game against the San Jose State Spartans at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 06, 2025 in Austin, Texas
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Steve Sarkisian is reportedly keen on leaving Texas for an NFL job(Image: Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Steve Sarkisian, the head coach of Texas' Longhorns, is reportedly considering a move to the NFL after the 2025 season.
The 51 year old has been leading the Longhorns since 2021 and has successfully brought the team back to the top echelons of college football. In the past two seasons, Texas has boasted impressive records of 12-2 and 13-3.
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They even made it to the College Football Playoff semi-final last year, only to be defeated by Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. However, this season has presented some challenges for Sarkisian and his team.
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Despite starting the year with Arch Manning as quarterback and being ranked No. 1 in the nation, they've faced some struggles. Manning's performance in his first year as a starter under Sarkisian has been less than stellar, leading to questions about whether he should be benched and criticism of Sarkisian's playcalling.
Currently, Texas holds a 5-2 record for the year and is ranked No. 22 in the country as they prepare for their weekend game against Mississippi State. Despite this, Sarkisian is said to be contemplating a departure from college football.
NFL insider Dianna Russini reported on Saturday that the Longhorns head coach has signaled to teams that he would be open to transitioning to the NFL if there was interest in hiring him.
"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 of The Athletic wrote on X.
Sarkisian has previously worked in the NFL, though never as a head coach. He served as quarterback coach for the then-Oakland Raiders back in 2004. But he returned to the college ranks just one year later to fill the same position with USC.
Sarkisian's Longhorns have had a tough season
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Sarkisian's Longhorns have had a tough season(Image: Getty Images)
His most recent NFL stint saw him run the Atlanta Falcons offense as their offensive coordinator for two seasons from 2017 to 2018, before getting the axe. Sarkisian's current contract with Texas extends through 2031, earning him $10.8 million annually this year before escalating to $12.3 million toward the conclusion of his deal.
At present, the Tennessee Titans job represents the sole head coaching opening in the NFL, becoming available after the organization dismissed Brian Callahan earlier this month. Callahan was reportedly earning $3 million this year, which falls well short of Sarkisian's Texas compensation.
However, Texas has denied any interest from Sarkisian regarding an NFL move, with a source telling OnTexasFootball that The Athletic's report was completely false.
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"There's ZERO [all caps] truth to that," said the Longhorns source.