College Football Coaches Who Could Jump to NFL in 2018

Apr 22, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Chris Petersen smiles as he enters the field for the Spring Game at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2017 NFL offseason experienced something different in that every head coaching position filled featured no college football coaches in those roles.

It would seem the Chip Kelly debacle has scared teams away from trying that route of late. Not surprising. Still, it’s only a matter of time before somebody from the collegiate ranks decides to make the jump. In fact 2018 could be the premium time for it to happen again. At that point the question becomes who are the top names likeliest to make the jump? Here are four worth watching over the next several months.

Jim Harbaugh (Michigan)

The rumors have swirled for over a year that Harbaugh is already contemplating a return to the NFL. No doubt he’s bitter about how things ended for him in San Francisco (as he should be). He’s done his job by getting Michigan back on track but it’s important to remember he was only at Stanford for four seasons. If the Wolverines win a national title or the right job opens up, don’t be shocked if he jumps.

Nick Saban (Alabama)

People have hinted for years that Nick Saban could return to the NFL. As yet it hasn’t happened. He seems quite content at Alabama and just signed a contract extension. Nonetheless the fact remains he has nothing left to accomplish in college football. He’s already one the greatest to ever do it at that level. The only box left unchecked in his iconic career is a Super Bowl.

Chris Petersen (Washington)

This could be the next hot, young college football coach to draw the attention of NFL teams. Chris Petersen has now shown he can turn not one but two different college programs into national powerhouses. He did it at Boise State and now at Washington. He’s a quarterback guru and been a head coach for a decade now. A savvy team should see he’s ready for that challenge.

David Shaw (Stanford)

Like Saban, David Shaw has been heavily rumored as an NFL target for the past couple years. He however has deeper ties to the pros. At some point it stands to reason he’ll feel his time at Stanford has run its course. Given his connections between the college and pro levels, there is every reason to think Shaw is fully prepared for whenever that moment to ascend comes.

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