It doesn’t sound like Lincoln Riley will be “going pro” anytime soon. The Oklahoma head coach told Howie Kussoy of the New York Post that he has no plans of joining the NFL.
“I can’t tell you how I’m gonna feel in 10 years, but no, not right now,” Riley said. “If I wasn’t at one of the elite programs in the country, maybe, but no, I’m very happy where I’m at right now.
“If it was 20, 30 years ago, where there were some major differences, maybe. … The way the college game has evolved, financially it’s a lot better situation now when you compare it to NFL teams. We’re at a place where we’re happy, and we don’t take that for granted. I love coaching at Oklahoma, love coaching college football.”
Riley’s name has continually been connected with potential head coaching vacancies, and the Oklahoma coach recently led a Yahoo! Sports list of collegiate coaches who could make the jump to the NFL. However, Riley has been adamant that he’s staying put, and he’s even told recruits that he’ll be sticking with Oklahoma.
“I was very upfront, said what I’ve said the 15 times I’ve been asked about it since,” Riley said. “I told them the truth. I told them I love where I’m at right now, and I don’t have that itch right now, and I fully plan on being at Oklahoma.”
Even if Riley wasn’t being entirely truthful, it’s not surprising that he’s rejecting the notion of joining the NFL. The Sooners are set to play in the College Football Playoff semifinals against Alabama on Saturday. Eliminating distractions is surely one of his top priorities, and definitively stating that he’s sticking with Oklahoma could only be perceived as a good thing.
Of course, even with his public statements, NFL teams will still be eyeing Riley this offseason. The 35-year-old has led Oklahoma to two straight CFP appearances, and he’s been touted for helping to develop quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Riley has a 24-3 record and a pair of Big 12 championships during his two seasons as head coach, and he served as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2015 and 2016.
Which is code for my people told me that the cowboys are not firing their head coach.
Why would he go to Dallas? The owner is a royal douche bag and impossible to work for. Until he dies, Dallas isn’t a dream destination.
Check out an NFL tv coverage map each week and see where Dallas is being broadcast. America’s team.
Hue Jackson has convinced me you don’t want head coaches that share the same name as a US president.