Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin has often been mentioned as a future NFL head-coaching candidate, but that apparently won’t happen any time soon.
The school and Sumlin have announced that they’ve agreed to a new six-year contract extension. Although coaches often leave jobs for greener pastures, the announcement -- and Sumlin’s adamant statements that he’s committed to coaching the Aggies -- likely means we won’t be hearing Sumlin’s name mentioned in connection with NFL jobs.
“I am humbled and very appreciative of the commitment that Texas A&M has extended not only to me and my family, but to our football program overall,” Sumlin said in the school’s announcement. “We have only just begun to lay the foundation for sustained, long-term success here at Texas A&M, and we will work hard every day to make this great institution and the 12th Man proud.”
Sumlin was reportedly a target of the Eagles if they hadn’t been able to land Chip Kelly, and Sumlin is -- like Kelly -- viewed as a coach with an innovative approach who could bring schemes to the NFL that haven’t been seen before. Sumlin has often said, however, that he prefers coaching young men at the college level.
According to some reports, Sumlin was the first choice as the next head coach at USC, which fired Lane Kiffin this year. Sumlin staying at Texas A&M could give a boost to the chances of Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio getting hired at USC.