Multiple NFL teams have inquired about Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald. But, as of this writing, he has not agreed to interview with any of them (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter).
The Falcons, Lions, and Texans have all been connected to Fitzgerald, though it’s hard to see him landing in Houston. Reportedly, the Texans aren’t interested in pulling a coach from the college ranks. Instead, they’re chatting with experienced NFL coaches like Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was also on that list, but he declined.
Fitzgerald has coached the Wildcats to three 10-win seasons since taking over in 2006. That was no small feat, considering the program’s underwhelming track record. Fitzgerald, 46, has come up in NFL conversations before, but he didn’t generate much buzz last year. If Fitzgerald turns pro, he’ll be the third college coach to do so in the past three years, following Kliff Kingsbury and Matt Rhule.
It’s worth noting that Northwestern is Fitzgerald’s alma mater and he’s referred to his current position as his “dream job.” Some coaches play hard to get, but Fitzgerald’s trepidation might be sincere.
He pretty much has the job for life at Northwestern as Head Coach . I can see him leave for the Chicago Bears and “maybe” Notre Dame , but that’s it.
Couldn’t agree more
He’s never going to ND. I would love if he did. But he’s a NW alum. He’s never leaving unless it’s the Bears. ND is too far from where he lives now. Chicago however, is not.
Your probably right. I think it’s the Chicago Bears or nothing.
Next year at this time he will be the Bears.
He coaches northwestern to his retirement or the bears and that’s final, he is never leaving Chicago
And that is that.
He’ll take the Bears job after they clean house next season.
Love him at Northwestern not so with Bears. No experience on any level with NFL and let’s be honest he’s a good coach nothing spectacular. He’s benefiting from the Chicago Media pushing him.
He’s been there since 2006 and has Three 10 win seasons. What were his records in the other seasons? Not knocking him or the program, but I agree he gets an awful lot of love from the media.
He has more bowl wins during his career then the combined season of every single other coach in the history of the school. If NU can consistently win games in the 10 how come other academic schools can’t win?
IDK, I’m guessing the other academic schools budget elsewhere. Just a guess. As for the amount bowl games, Lordy there must be 100 bowls by now. I’m not knocking him or NU. He’s done an impressive job at a- for sure- smaller football school than those he competes against. But that doesn’t mean he can win at larger budgeted schools or in the NFL.
If you don’t want to budget for sports then get out of power 5 conferences. He turned down PSU and ND before along with Green Bay. He’s won games on Néw Years Day against SEC schools. The same Sec schools that Vandy can’t come close to. NU has the best facilities in the country. Again if you dint want to compete with the power 5 schools get out of the conference.
Too much money to walk away from! Do you really think Vandy would ever leave the SEC, heck no. As for the best facilities comment, who knows. But teens aren’t going to a crappy practice field and 30 year old gym. There’s a reason why Clemson, OK, Bama, OSU are always in contention for the championship. I bet all of their facilities are superb.
NU is considered to have better facilities then those schools. Vandy is incapable of fielding teams and they are only there because of the money that the top teams bring in and that they can lose to them by 35 every single game. NU has even better academics and they can make their teams at least competitive to most of the other schools in the BiG 10 and beat supposedly football programs like Auburn.
Let’s see you try to consistently win games at NU. It’s easier said then done. If he wanted to go somewhere else it would have happened already. The only reason this keeps coming up is his close ties to Micheal Ryan who is on the board of both NU and the Bears. Not too mention his ties to Murphy who runs the Packers. He has turned down offers or at least interviews at much better situations.
I haven’t said 1 negative thing about the coach or NU’s program. I even looked up his record 106-81 good for 56% winning. Great stuff from a non-football power school.
Personally, I think he should stay put. He has said many times its his dream job, paid very well, and 1-3 loss season is still considered a good year. He had back to back 5 win seasons and the school didn’t move on.
He is never going to leave why go someplace where your fired if you can’t go 11-1 every year. He’s by far and away the best coach in the history of the program. Fielding a competitive team year in and year out at a program that has higher standards of admissions then most schools outside of the Ivy League is almost next to impossible.