It has been reported that Eddie George is heading back to the Buckeye State. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the former Ohio State running back was one of three finalists interviewed for the Bowling Green head coaching position on Friday. Thamel shared just two days later that George had agreed to a five-year deal to become the Falcons’ next head coach.
The former Heisman Trophy winner has been the head coach at FCS Tennessee State since 2021. In four years as the head coach of the Tigers, George has a record of 24-22. His most successful season came in 2024 where he led Tennessee State to a 9-4 record including a share of the Big South conference championship and a FCS playoff appearance. He was also named the Big South OVC Coach of the Year this past season.
Eddie, of course, is one of the most beloved Buckeyes of all time. His No. 27 is forever commemorated in Ohio Stadium along with other Buckeye Heisman winners. After his time in Columbus ended, George went on to the NFL where he was the 1996 Rookie of the Year and made four Pro-Bowl appearances. He is the all-time leading rusher for the Tennessee Titans who also retired his No. 27 in 2019.
George takes over a Bowling Green program that has made three consecutive bowl appearances after former head coach Scot Loeffler stepped down to become the quarterbacks coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Falcons will most likely be in a rebuilding phase after losing many of their top players, including All-American tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
The former Buckeye is making a bit of history with his move to the Football Bowl Subdivision becoming just the third coach in HBCU history to make the jump. He joins Willie Jeffries in 1979 and Deion Sanders in 2023. The move isn’t much of a surprise after George interviewed for the Chicago Bears head coaching job in January. Eddie continues to gain experience as a head coach and will look to keep making a name for himself in the coaching ranks.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State great Eddie George coming back to coach in Ohio
