Lane Kiffin Addresses Idea of Leaving Ole Miss for NFL Next Year

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By J.C. Shelton | Last updated Nov 22, 2024 4:43 PM ET

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is no stranger to the NFL coaching ranks, and the success that the Rebels are having has raised a question of Kiffin's future in college football.

Kiffin first rose to prominence as an offensive assistant, and eventually offensive coordinator, with USC during the Trojan's national championship runs in 2003-04. Despite not having served as a head coach before, he became the youngest head coach (31) in Oakland Raiders franchise history in 2007.

After a volatile and short tenure with the Raiders, Kiffin spent one season at the helm of the Tennessee Volunteers (2009) before returning to USC as head coach for four seasons (2010-13).

After a 28-15 record with the Trojans, Kiffin was fired. One of the best play callers in the sport, Kiffin caught the eye of Alabama's Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide hired Kiffin to head the offense in 2014 and went on to win the 2015 national championship.

Kiffin's run in Tuscaloosa resulted in another head coaching opportunity, this time at Florida Atlantic. Kiffin took the role with FAU in 2016 and led the Owls to a 27-15 record over three seasons, including two bowl wins.

Though Kiffin's success as a play caller was undeniable, his resume as a head coach didn't truly take off until he arrived in Oxford in 2019. He led the Rebels to their first 11-win season in program history in 2023, and Ole Miss currently sits at No. 9 in the country with a College Football Playoff bid likely on the way.

Kiffin, who signed a contract extension with Ole Miss last year that extends through 2029, joined Fox Sports host Colin Cowherd this week and addressed what his level of interest is at going back to the NFL.

"You would be offered a job, absolutely," Cowherd said on "The Herd." "Why wouldn't you take it?"

“This is really neat," Kiffin responded. "The way to build college teams now has become like the NFL. ... But you still have the really unique college elements of the fans, of the passion, the small towns. I really enjoy where we’re at. We’ve spent a lot of time to get it up to this place, that wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.”

Kiffin will make $8.85 million in 2024 before that number grows to $9 million per year through 2029. He is one of the sport's top 10 highest-paid coaches.

Ole Miss (8-2) will visit Florida (5-5) on Saturday before taking on rival Mississippi State (2-8) in the Egg Bowl on Nov. 29. The Rebels have a good chance at making the playoff field if they can win out.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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