As the NFL offseason unrolls, several teams are already filling coaching and player vacancies. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has been one of the most talked-about names in the college coaching pool for NFL openings.
However, according to a report from Brett McMurphy on Jan. 19, Sarkisian remains committed to building something special at Texas, saying the Longhorns coach signed a contract extension with the team after rejecting two NFL interviews.
Fans React as Steve Sarkisian Extends Contract With Texas
While it is uncertain which two teams Sarkisian turned down, it was rumored that Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears were among the teams interested in hiring him.
“Steve Sarkisian agrees to contract extension w/Texas after declining interviews w/2 NFL teams, sources said. UT Board of Regents chairman Kevin Eltife & AD Chris Del Conte were key figures in getting the deal done, source said. Sarkisian has led UT to consecutive College Football Playoff semifinal berths & double-digit win seasons for 1st time in 17 years,” McMurphy reported on X (formerly known as Twitter).
BREAKING: Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has agreed to a contract extension after declining NFL interviews with 2 teams, @Brett_McMurphy reports🤘https://t.co/utfSzVIus2 pic.twitter.com/Lws5FTAKy4
— On3 (@On3sports) January 18, 2025
Upon hearing the news, a barrage of fan comments came flooding in.
“He said f**k you Jerry Jones,” a fan said.
“Wise move. Texas is one of the best jobs out there.” Another fan wrote.
“Ngl he’s doing great things there. Former BYU legend,” another fan added.
Texas fans were especially elated.
“Solid move by Longhorns, especially after the potential for offers he had for NFL head coaching positions after this season. No sense losing him, given that Texas football is relevant again,” a fan echoed.
“@TexasFootball, wise move. Sark knows what he’s doing and has us reloading instead of rebuilding annually. He’s my ride or die for Texas. Keep up the great work, Texas and Sark 🤘🏻🧡,” another fan wrote.
Sarkisian has been at Texas for four years and has taken the Longhorns to two College Football Playoff semifinals with a 38-17 record under his tutelage, including a 25-5 record in the past two years.
“Smart man. He’s locked in here for the long haul. They shouldn’t miss the playoffs while he’s there,” a fan said.
Sarkisian still had a few years left on his original contract with Texas, which would have run until 2030 and paid him over $10 million annually. However, he will be there even longer, though the details of his new contract haven’t been shared yet.