Sarkisian has been the Longhorns’ head coach since 2021. Earlier this year, he extended his contract with UT Austin.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is pushing back against a rumor that alleged he’s interested in NFL job openings, including the Tennessee Titans vacancy.
The speculation began after The Athletic’s Diana Russini reported that Sarkisian had expressed interest in returning to the NFL, where he previously served as the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator from 2017 to 2018.
Ahead of the Longhorns game against Mississippi State on Saturday, CAA Football released a statement from Sarkisian’s representatives, who said, “Any reports regarding communications on coaching opportunities with NFL teams are patently false and wildly inaccurate. Sark is solely focused on coaching the University of Texas football team.”
Following the Longhorns’ win on Saturday, a visibly frustrated Sarkisian addressed the report during his postgame media availability.
“It really pisses me off that one person can make a report that the entire sports world runs with as factual,” Sarkisian said. “I’ve got a small circle when I make decisions on what I do and what I don’t do, and nobody will speak on my behalf without me knowing. So where that report came from, I’d love to talk to that person because it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Sarkisian has been the Longhorns’ head coach since 2021. Earlier this year, he signed a contract extension with the University of Texas at Austin, securing a $12.3 million salary by 2031 and maintaining his spot as one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.
The 3.85% pay raise raised Sarkisian’s guaranteed pay in 2025 by $400,000 to $10.8 million. He will make $11 million by next year and $12 million by 2030. The seven-year deal also added an extra year to his previous contract.
Sarkisian has amassed a 44-19 record so far in his time with the Longhorns.