Jackson State Tigers head coach Deion Sanders. Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK

With Bryan Harsin out at Auburn, could Deion Sanders be in?

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Oct 31, 2022 3:55 PM ET

Auburn fired head coach Bryan Harsin on Monday, ending a marriage that's been on the brink of ending for weeks.

Breaking: Auburn has fired head coach Bryan Harsin, the team announced. pic.twitter.com/BjLTPGdggM
— ESPN (@espn) October 31, 2022

With the announcement, people were quick to suggest who Auburn (3-5, 1-4 in SEC) should turn to for its next head coach.

Auburn looking for a coach?! pic.twitter.com/6isauuBq4T
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 31, 2022

First calls for Auburn:

- Deion Sanders
- Lane Kiffin
- Matt Rhule
- Hugh Freeze
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) October 31, 2022

Auburn should give Deion Sanders an offer he can’t deny.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) October 31, 2022

Listen, I have zero idea on who Auburn hires for their next HC.

But let’s be honest, could you imagine SEC Media Nights next year in Nashville with SEC West coaches…..Saban, Jimbo, Lane, Leach, Pittman, Brian Kelly & Deion Sanders? pic.twitter.com/65TOdHO1es
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) October 31, 2022

First two calls if I’m Auburn:

Matt Rhule & Deion
— Jordan Rodgers (@JRodgers11) October 31, 2022

Deion Sanders showed this past weekend when Jackson State hosted "College Gameday" the type of energy he brings anywhere he goes. He's the type of coach that would immediately bring excitement to a program that is somehow more dysfunctional than Texas A&M.

With Oklahoma and Texas joining the conference in 2025, Auburn will be in even more perilous territory if they don't hit a home run with its next hire.

The Harsin error ended with the coach in an ignominious place in Auburn lore.

"I think it's not difficult to say this, he is the worst coach in Auburn football history." @bmarcello on Auburn firing head coach Bryan Harsin. pic.twitter.com/EmkjABQc1K
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) October 31, 2022

His tenure was so bad that it's impossible to rank his best 10 wins since he only managed to produce nine total victories.

Looking back on the Top...uh...9 wins of the Bryan Harsin era at Auburn! pic.twitter.com/aN8ktmzKbu
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 31, 2022

Harsin's hiring was announced on Dec. 22, 2020. He lasted less than two full seasons with the team.

As low as Auburn is, some suggest Sanders might want to stay away completely.

and because i know it's coming...auburn would be a *terrible* job for deion sanders. mostly for the reasons described above.
— bomani (@bomani_jones) October 31, 2022

I wouldn’t touch Auburn if I was Deion https://t.co/zvT19vvCj0
— S. Johnson (@StevenMJohnson_) October 31, 2022

It would be gross negligence on the part of Auburn's athletic department if it didn't make a significant push to land Sanders.

The ball could be in Sanders' hands, as it often was during his playing days. If "Primetime" accepts the Tigers' advances, Harsin will be forgotten quicker than his tenure lasted.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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