Alabama Offensive Coordinator Bill O’Brien
Bill O’Brien should be the first guy that Nebraska calls because he’ll be coveted when other jobs open up. As a college head coach, O’Brien holds a 15-9 record from his time at Penn State.
Serving as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, he’s had great success. At Duke he coached quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, and with Alabama in 2021, he coached Bryce Young to a Heisman winning season along with an offense that averaged 488.3 yards per game. Let’s also not forget, O’Brien coached Tom Brady from 2009 to 2011. O’Brien is a great fit seeing that he had success in the BIG Ten prior and could turn Nebraska into an offensive powerhouse with guys like Casey Thompson and Anthony Grant.
Free Agent Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh
I’m not serious…or am I? I could see Suh returning to Nebraska when he retires to coach the defensive line at his alma mater, but there are currently a lot of better options to interview at head coach.
Former LSU Head Coach Ed Orgeron
Why not? While Coach O seemed a bit overzealous to leave LSU, I can’t blame him. They gave him 17.1 million dollars and told him to hit the road. It may seem like Ed O could be done coaching, but he could make a triumphant return to save Nebraska football. He’s won a National Title prior and has worked with some great football minds in the past including Lane Kiffin, Pete Carrol, and Les Miles. He recruited Joe Burrow to LSU and would be able to sell some of the nation’s top talent on coming out to Lincoln.
Iowa State Head Coach Matt Campbell
While Campbell is having great success at Iowa State, it would be Nebraska would certainly be an enticing offer. If he could be the guy to bring Husker football back, he’d be an absolute legend in Lincoln. For the Huskers, this would be a home run, but for Campbell, this would be a vertical move. He’s made vertical moves his whole career advancing from coaching the offensive line at Bowling Green to being the head coach at Toledo, then taking over at Iowa State. In his eleven seasons as a head coach, Campbell has nine seasons over seven wins and is 4-4 in Bowl Games. He’s a great fit for this job.
Carolina Panthers Head Coach Matt Rhule
Sometimes, the NFL isn’t for everyone. Whether it’s Nick Saban, Lane Kiffin, or Steve Spurrier, the NFL just isn’t for some guys. Rhule is on the hot seat in Carolina, especially after dropping their week one game against Cleveland. In seven seasons as a college head coach with Temple and Baylor, he has four seasons with over seven wins, and three with over ten wins.
Rhule came into both Temple and Baylor to mend bad programs and did just that. He took Temple from 2-10 his first season to 10-2 his final season. At Baylor, he took the Bears from 1-11 to 11-3 before departing for the NFL. This could be a match made in heaven.
Podcaster And Former Husker Will Compton
Hear me out. It feels like the great history and culture that Nebraska once had is gone. Adios, out the door. Who better to bring it back than 2012 Huskers captain Will Compton? He’s great for team morale, could recruit like a beast, and would look great on the sideline with his new teeth (see his old, jacked up grill below). While Compton may not get the Huskers defense or offense right, their special teams would be immaculate. Don’t count out Willy Trumpets.
Former TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson
Gary Patterson went from coaching TCU for over twenty years to essentially being Steve Sarkisian’s intern. I have a feeling that he’s itching to get back into being a head coach. He led TCU to a 181-79 record in his time with the Horned Frogs to go with an 11-6 record in bowl games. There’s no better spot for Patterson to land for his next coaching job than Nebraska. He’s experienced, has over ten winning seasons, and took TCU from 6-6 to 11-2 in two seasons.
Former Florida Head Coach Dan Mullen
It’ll be tough to get Mullen away from his cushy analyst job at ABC, but he’d be a pretty good get for Nebraska. While Mullens never won a Natty or made the playoffs, he’s pretty damn consistent. With a 103-61 record from his time at Mississippi State and Florida, he’s proved that he can have winning seasons in the nations top conference. Mullen shouldn’t be at the top of Nebraskas list, but it’d definitely be worth it to interview the guy.
Wisconsin Defensive Coordinator Jim Leonhard
Much like Bill O’Brien, Jim Leonhard will be a highly coveted head coaching candidate during the college football offseason. He came onto the Badgers staff in 2016 and took over as their defensive coordinator in 2017 and led a defense that allowed 174.3 yards a game and 0.7 touchdowns a game in 2021. Leonhard needs to make a vertical move sooner vs later to advance his coaching career. Taking over at Nebraska would be great for both Leonhard and the Corn Huskers. It may not be a flashy higher, but it’s a sturdy one.
Former Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Urban Meyer
Again, hear me out. Maybe the guy likes to mix it up coeds and isn’t the nicest to his players, but he’s a winner at the college level. He’s 187-32 as a head coach and has won three National Titles while at Florida and Ohio State. Meyer’s a top tier recruiter and develops guys into winners. Whether you hate him or not, you can’t deny that he’s one hell of a coach. If the Huskers get desperate and want to throw a Hail Mary, they’ll give Meyer a call.
Former Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini
BRING BACK BO, BRING BACK BO. Pelini had success at Nebraska from 2008 to 2014 as he won three Big 12 Division Championships and a BIG Ten Division Championship in his time. In twelve seasons as a head coach with Nebraska and Youngstown State, he amassed a record of 100-55 with ten seasons over six wins and a 4-3 record in bowl games. He hasn’t coached since 2020 and at 54, he’s primed to return. BRING BACK BO, BRING BACK BO.
