The Texas Longhorns’ recent run in the College Football Playoff Semifinals ended with a narrow defeat to the formidable Ohio State Buckeyes. It was a fiercely contested battle, but ultimately, the Longhorns fell short. However, their efforts this season shine a spotlight on the trajectory of their head coach, Steve Sarkisian. With growing speculation about his potential move to the NFL, there’s much to unpack about Sarkisian’s journey and what the future could hold.
Sarkisian’s career is a testament to his resilience and adaptability. He cut his teeth in coaching as the offensive coordinator at USC back in 2007-2008, before taking the helm as head coach at Washington from 2009 to 2013. He returned to USC for a stint as head coach from 2014-2015. Afterward, he sharpened his play-calling skills with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2016, and even had a go in the NFL as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons from 2017 to 2018. He then returned to Alabama until 2020 before accepting the head coaching role at Texas in 2021.
Under his guidance, Texas has quickly risen to prominence, showing real promise in their inaugural season within the SEC ranks. Known for his innovative offensive schemes, Sarkisian’s coaching style is marked by a fine balance—leveraging misdirection to exploit the field’s limits, which led to them churning out an impressive 443.9 points on average in the regular season. It’s this offensive acumen that’s catching the eye of NFL franchises, even as the Longhorns continue to jostle for top spots in college football.
Sarkisian’s credentials as a transformative figure—with a knack for building culture and installing novel offensive tactics—make him an attractive candidate for NFL teams. Of particular interest is a potential fit with the Jacksonville Jaguars. With a plethora of young talent, including the promising Trevor Lawrence, alongside key offensive weapons like Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Etienne, the Jacksonville set-up could greatly benefit from Sarkisian’s touch. His modern approach, honed by his NFL experience, could be precisely what’s needed to propel Lawrence’s development and bring the Jaguars into competitive contention.
In short, if the cards fall into place, Sarkisian’s transition to the NFL could catalyze success for both him and the Jacksonville Jaguars—a partnership poised to unlock the full potential of a reenergized offense.
