Steve Sarkisian's 'significant raise' shuts down NFL rumors

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian before the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Texas HC Steve Sarkisian's 'significant raise' should shut down NFL rumors

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jan 18, 2025 8:38 PM ET

NFL teams should stop pursuing Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian after he secured a massive payday on Saturday.

The Action Network's Brett McMurphy reported Sarkisian and Texas agreed to a contract extension after the coach declined interviews with two NFL teams.

ESPN's Pete Thamel added the new seven-year contract includes a "significant raise." Sarkisian was already among the highest-paid college football coaches, earning $10.6M in 2024.

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 @CFBPlayoff…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) January 18, 2025

Texas has agreed to a new seven-year deal for Steve Sarkisian, which adds a year to his deal and includes a significant raise, per a source. He remains one of the highest paid coaches in the sport, as he’d ranked No. 3 at $10.6 million. Action Network first reported new deal. pic.twitter.com/8J38LI2JHu
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 18, 2025

Interest from NFL teams gave Sarkisian leverage, which probably convinced the Longhorns it was a good time to solidify their future with the 50-year-old head coach.

Since replacing Tom Herman in 2021, Sarkisian has helped the program return to national prominence. In four seasons with the Longhorns, he is 38-17.

This past season, the Longhorns moved from the Big 12 to the SEC. Although they faced stiffer competition, they made the SEC Championship Game and a second straight College Football Playoff semifinal appearance.

Sarkisian has also proved he has an eye for talent. During his tenure, the Longhorns have sent multiple players to the NFL, including Atlanta Falcons second-year running back Bijan Robinson and Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy.

Longhorns offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. — a first-team All-American — is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Sarkisian and Co. are rolling, and the program doesn't want to lose momentum. Giving Sarkisian a new contract should minimize distractions, which should keep the Longhorns in the thick of the national title hunt.

247 Sports ranks the Longhorns' 2025 recruiting class as No. 1 in the country, and highly touted redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning is expected to replace junior Quinn Ewers, who recently declared for the draft.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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