Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was a hot name on the NFL coaching circuit a few months ago when there were several intriguing openings.
It made sense too. Sarkisian has gone to Texas and brought the Longhorns back to national relevance. In fact, they’re more than relevant. They’re among the best programs in the nation and should again be one of the favorites to compete for the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2025.
What he’s done in Texas has made him a big name, and it’s been quite a journey for Sarkisian, who was once fired from USC because of multiple alcohol-related incidents.
He didn’t go to Texas just to rebuild his image as a coach, though. Sarkisian was clear about that when recently speaking to the media about the NFL interest in him this offseason.
“I didn’t come here to put on a hat to say I’m a head coach again. It was a long journey to get back to this seat. But I came here — I was very clear in my opening press conference and I’ve been very clear along the way — to win championships,” Sarkisian said (h/t On3). “We’ve got a lot of unfinished business. I wasn’t entertaining anything that was beyond making sure I had a really good job here and I could solidify the job here and I could hire the best people I could here and I could recruit the best players I could here to go try to do that. I’m proud of the work we’ve done.”
It’s interesting to hear Coach Sark publicly state that he was using the NFL as leverage, but it did work out in his favor. He was given a raise and extended through the 2031 season.
The Longhorns made it to the CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl before running into the buzzsaw that had become Ohio State. They lost, 28-14, to the eventual CFP champion Buckeyes, but Texas will be looking to make another run this season under highly anticipated quarterback Arch Manning.
