The upcoming showdown between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish features two of the most highly regarded college football head coaches, but neither one is set on a future in the NFL.
According to Scott Bordow of the Arizona Republic, Urban Meyer and Brian Kelly both suggested they’ll stick around at the college level.
Meyer, who revealed that an NFL team contacted him to gauge interest, commented on the lack of job security in the league:
“I think sometimes people say college coaches don’t make it (in the NFL) very well. Well, I don’t know who makes it very well. People are getting fired left and right.”
Kelly said he would only be interested if a team completely handed over the reins, which means control over player personnel.
“How would you give up control of all the things you have at Notre Dame to do that? Unless they gave you full autonomy and control of an organization and I don’t think that’s happening anytime soon for Brian Kelly.”
Meyer was linked to the Cleveland Browns earlier in December, but the Ohio State coach released a brief statement saying he has no interest in another position. Kelly is a subject in speculation concerning the potentially vacant New York Giants gig and could be tied to the Philadelphia Eagles soon.
Like Kelly said, though, giving up complete control wouldn’t be easy.
Coaches — especially at major programs in the Football Bowl Subdivision — want to authorize every decision that directly affects his team. Unless an NFL franchise is willing to grant that power to a rookie professional head coach, staying in college has a significant appeal.
Barring severe NCAA violations, neither Ohio State nor Notre Dame will decide to part ways with Meyer or Kelly.
That kind of job security cannot be promised in the NFL — just ask Jim Harbaugh, who compiled a 44-19-1 record with the San Francisco 49ers before getting pushed back into the college game, or Chip Kelly, who the Philadelphia Eagles gave full control yet was fired after one discouraging season.
College can be an exhausting place to coach, but it’s markedly more secure than the pros.