As A&M learned with Sumlin, and as NFL teams are learning with Kaepernick and Wilson, taking risks is a good thing. If you're just trying to be good, then safe is the way to go - but the best way to become great is to take risks and think outside the box.
Risky? Yes it is. But maybe NFL teams need to take a little more risk. It seems like NFL teams just recycle the same old coaches over and over. But I don't see Sumlin going to the pro league anytime real soon. Maybe if the Aggies have a few phenomenal years and win a Championship. Sumlin has it great right now with the recruits he's getting.
Can you elaborate on why you think Sumlin would be a Risky NFL hire? Is it because he doesn't have NFL experience? Would you rather have someone with "experience" like Andy Reid or something like that? Sumlin seems like a superstar right now with what he did with Keenum and Manziel.
I already posted this. Sumlin's experience running a major program is very limited compared to his peers, even guys at the bottom end of the spectrum of experience (i.e. Harbaugh). I'm surprised he is getting NFL sniffs, based on how the head-hunting criteria for NFL head coaches has been in the past. Can he succeed? Sure, why the heck not. But Sumlin doesn't have an NFL talent factory on his resume just yet, despite Keenum/Manziel, etc.
But looking at your list, there is no apparent correlation between experience and success. Harbaugh and Jimmy Johnson were successful being on the opposite ends of the experience spectrum, and guys with tons of experience flopped spectacularly.
I'm not saying there is correlation between exp and success. I'm saying there is a correlation between exp and hiring likelihood.
Chip Kelly blew off the Cleveland Browns. I'd say their choices of getting a respected and experienced coach are pretty slim and getting someone like Sumlin would be a better bet.
This is a good point, there are some bottom of the barrel franchises that can't afford to be choosey. Another college-turned-pro coach. Greg Schiano - 3 years NFL exp, 12 years of success at a major program (10 HC)
Billy Liucci posted on Twitter that Sumlin was offered the Eagles job and the job at Auburn. He turned both down.
If he got offered the Eagles job I am surprised he turn it down. I wonder how much money he was offered.
The Eagles had to make an NFL newbie a top 10 salaries coach to convince him to take their job. It's a total dumpster fire, where you're succeeding once of the most successful nfl coaches in history, with a fan base that is never happy. In a locale you (probably) have no interest in living in. Seems reasonable for Summy to turn em down, unless they were offering similar salary, but i doubt they were. Probably 4 million tops.
Generally NFL teams only have a coaching vacancy when the team is a dumpster fire. Unless a coach retires, that means the team was bad enough to fire the coach.
Fair point. But I think Philly was a particularly smelly dumpster fire. Think medical waste and dirty diapers.
No worse than KC or Cleveland. Out of the teams that fired coaches, only SD and Arizona have the makings of being able to pull out of their death spiral anytime soon.
I disagree about KC. They have talent everywhere but QB, and their biggest problem (Pioli) is gone. You forgot Jacksonville. Total dumpster fire.
He's building a machine at A&M and making plenty of money right now, I think he would turn down just about any NFL coaching job. Give him a few years and a National Championship at A&M and he'll be able to pick what he wants to do at that point. He'd be a fool to leave, he's in the catbird seat right now in College Station.
