The NFL has a history of college football head coaches making the transition, such as Jimmy Johnson and Kliff Kingsbury, who successfully made the jump to the NFL. Now, Lincoln Riley is also speculated to be making his way toward the NFL.
USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley is considering a move to the NFL in 2024, sparking speculation about this potential transition. The 40-year-old had an incredible college coaching career, which can help him make this transition smoothly.
Lincoln Riley may join the NFL in 2024
Reports suggest that Lincoln Riley may join the NFL in 2024. Scott Wolf, in his appearance at the ‘Dan Patrick Show’, shared that Riley is looking to make his way in the league.
He shared that this speculation is based on sources and discussions in NFL coaching circles.
“In NFL coaching circles, the talk is that Lincoln Riley is putting out feelers about taking a job in the NFL next season. To be clear, this chatter was going around last week and has nothing to do with USC’s loss to Notre Dame.”
Riley’s move to the NFL could be influenced by his connection with quarterback Caleb Williams.
“The word is Riley would be open to an NFL job if he could follow Caleb Williams to the same franchise.”
He added that the coach might consider an NFL job if he can follow Williams to the same franchise, with the Chicago Bears being a potential fit. Additionally, an NFL team might have input on Riley’s coaching staff decisions.
“If the Chicago Bears had the No. 1 pick, it would probably ideal for this theory. The other part of the theory is that an NFL team would tell Riley who to hire, especially on the defensive staff, to avoid some of the pratfalls that have happened in college. If Riley is serious about wanting to coach only 10 more years, it makes sense that he would go to the NFL sooner than later.”
The NFL world will welcome the coach with open arms, as NFL teams often prefer young offensive-minded coaches when hiring new head coaches. Riley aligns with this trend, given his age and offensive coaching background.
Lincoln Riley has reputation for being a top-tier NCAA head coach
Lincoln Riley, currently the head coach of the USC Trojans, is regarded as one of the best NCAA head coaches. He was previously the HC of the Oklahoma Sooners from 2017 to 2021, where he worked with notable quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.
During his time at Oklahoma, the coach had an impressive record of 55 wins and 10 losses. In 2022, he joined USC Trojans and helped Caleb Williams to a Heisman Trophy-winning season. His team, Trojans, had a 6-1 record in their current season. Given his exceptional coaching career, it won’t be difficult for the coach to move to the NFL.
While some NCAA coaches have succeeded in the NFL, there have been instances of coaches like Matt Rhule who struggled in their transitions. Only time will tell whether Riley will be able to become a successful coach in the NFL or he’ll also struggle like previous coaches.
What do you think will happen if Lincoln Riley moves to the NFL? Let us know in the comments!
