Ryan Day Drops Subtle Hint About His OSU Future As Steve Sarkisian Snubs NFL Offer With New Expansion

This is a season of fresh faces joining new teams! With more NFL HC offers coming in to tempt CFB HCs, we can only speculate on their next move. Steve Sarkisian may have made its decision, but the stand of some excellent HCs is still up for debate. But Ryan day also hinted at his future in Columbus during his appearance at Ohio State Media Day at the CFP National Championship in Atlanta.

In a new YouTube episode on WBNS 10TV on January 19, Ryan Day first credited former HC Urban Meyer and former AD Gene Smith for his role in Columbus. Then he added: “I could talk to you about probably 20 guys on this team who are in the same boat about how proud I am of their growth as people in all areas of their lives. You know, physically they look different; mentally they are different, and emotionally and spiritually they are different. And that’s why you get into college coaching…it’s to see these players achieve their dreams and goals and to support the staff, their families and everything else.“

Ryan Day’s road to the national championship was fraught with challenges. He faced tremendous criticism for his 13-10 loss against Michigan in their big rivalry game. But the power of his resilience shined in Ohio State’s playoff dominance. The Buckeyes defeated Tennessee, Oregon and Texas and scored 111 total points. There have been reports that Day has interest from some NFL teams seeking a HC. But as things stand now, he has planted his feet in Columbus.

It’s not hard to see why wanting to stay in college means a lot to some HCs. It is watching their young players develop into mature and responsible adults. Well, it’s not just about polishing them on the field, but it’s also about nurturing them in every aspect of their lives. You have an impact on these growing players. Maybe that’s part of the reason Steve Sarkisian chose to stay in Texas.

Steve Sarkisian is locked in Texas

Of course, there’s more than that at stake here because a contract extension is involved. Steve Sarkisian is a prolific CFB HC and is a very enticing candidate for an NFL coaching job. While his stints at Washington and USC may not have been spectacular, it was his transfer to Texas where his coaching brilliance came to light. In his four seasons as the Longhorns’ HC, he went 38-17, ending this season with a trip to the CFP semifinals against Ohio State.

After leading Texas to Cotton bowlSteve Sarkisian received NFL interests, but he turned them down. Per Bret McMurphy by The action networkthe 50-year-old HC turned down two NFL interviews to stay in Texas with another two-year contract extension. This new seven-year contract will include a significant salary increase. He is currently the third highest paid CFB coach with an annual salary of $10.6 million.

It remains to be seen if Ryan Day remains committed to Ohio State. And there is a good chance that he will. When a similar NFL rumor circulated in December 2021, the Buckeyes’ HC shot down all rumors, saying: “I love Ohio State and I love being a coach at Ohio State.” Clearly, the love is still there, and this season gives him more reason to stay.