3 college football coaches who could take NFL openings in 2025 ft. Kirby Smart
With NIL concerns, transfer portal fluctuations, endless recruiting and fundraising and so much more, college football coaching isn't getting easier. Many of the best tacticians might want to join the NFL. Situations constantly shift and change, but three college football coaches could be lured away by the NFL for 2025.
3 college football coaches who could take NFL positions in 2025
3. Lincoln Riley, USC
Riley is in some NCAA turmoil at USC, which could hasten this move. Yes, his Trojans are 4-5 in 2024, but this man is an offensive genius and has proven that with a handful of different star QBs at Oklahoma and later USC.
Riley came up as an assistant with Mike Leach in the Texas Tech Air Raid. He came to prominence as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma and then succeeded to the head coaching position at OU. Riley is 78-23 as a head coach and has five double-digit season win totals in eight seasons.
2. Dan Lanning, Oregon
Lanning has had massive success in a hurry at the collegiate level. After a tremendously successful tenure as defensive coordinator at Georgia, Lanning moved on to the Oregon job. Oregon has tended to be a stepping-stone job for coaches with broad ambitions, and Lanning could be the next one.
In his three years at Oregon, Lanning has a 32-5 record and has won 10+ games in all three seasons. Oregon is in the hunt for the College Football Playoff situation right now. Lanning might consider the next big testing ground if the Ducks win a title.
1.Kirby Smart, Georgia
Considering what an institution Smart has become at Georgia, it's easy to forget that he's only 48. After nearly a decade at Georgia, Smart seems to be subtly hinting at burnout. He's losing patience with the endless re-recruiting and constant loyalty questions of college football. His Georgia team spends as much time on the police page as the sports page of the news.
Smart is a defensive wizard who has gone 101-17 at Georgia. But this season has been trying, and if Georgia does lose to Tennessee or in another game, it'll be Smart's first three-loss season since 2018. The 12-team CFP makes Smart's job even harder than it was, and he might well see if he can land with a bunch of his UGA guys at the pro level.
Which coaches do you think could make the NFL jump? Share your predictions below in our comments section!