Mike Gundy’s Son Posts Powerful Message Following OSU Exit

In the wake of his father’s firing at Oklahoma State, Gunnar Gundy took to social media and let a passage speak for him. The current graduate assistant on the Cowboys’ staff posted Theodore Roosevelt’s “The Man in the Arena,” a historic and emotional piece of writing that has long been associated with failure, perseverance, and legacy. The post comes just days after Mike Gundy was officially let go following a 20-year run as head coach.

The quote opens with a firm dismissal of outside voices: “It is not the critic who counts,” Roosevelt wrote. “Not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.” From there, the passage builds toward its famous crescendo, one that praises those willing to compete, sacrifice, and lead even when the results fall short.

In the context of Mike Gundy’s exit, it reads as a direct commentary on the backlash that followed Oklahoma State’s downward spiral and the perception of how it ended.

Gundy did not add any personal caption or further comment, but the choice of quote is no coincidence. This is a message about loyalty, dignity, and the thankless nature of leadership when things go sideways. For someone who played under his father and now works within the same building, it also reflects the emotional weight of watching that tenure close under pressure. The younger Gundy didn’t try to spark outrage or dispute the facts; he simply acknowledged the cost of standing in the fire.

Mike Gundy was not given the opportunity to finish the 2025 season. Reports indicate that tensions with the administration had reached a breaking point, and the school opted to make a clean break rather than allow a farewell tour. Gunnar’s post serves as a quiet rebuke of how things were handled, while also reinforcing the idea that doing the work, showing up, and being fully invested count for something, even if the ending is bitter.

Whether Gunnar Gundy remains in Stillwater going forward is unclear. But in the moment, his words, or rather, Roosevelt’s, cut through the noise and gave voice to what many in the Oklahoma State locker room are likely still trying to process.