Football Fans React To Curt Cignetti's Stance On NFL Jobs
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It's truly hard to understate what an incredible job that Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has done with the Hoosiers by turning them from the worst program in college football history into a national title finalist. Naturally, fans are eager to see if Cignetti might be able to replicate that success in the pros.
Ahead of Monday's national title game against Miami, Cignetti was asked if he would have any interest in an NFL job somewhere down the line. Cignetti has no pro coaching experience at any level though, spending all of his 43 years of coaching in college.
So in response to the question, Cignetti stated point-blank that he's not interested. He said that he decided many years ago that it just wasn't something he wanted to pursue.
"I'm not an NFL guy. I made that decision a long time ago. I've always been a college football guy," he said.
Curt Cignetti đ€ College Football Guy pic.twitter.com/c86YYDhFeL
â FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 17, 2026
Reasonable or Inevitable?
NFL fans largely applauded the statement from Cignetti, pointing out that he's already making more money than all but a handful of college and NFL coaches. That and the fact he's rapidly becoming an icon in the entire sport makes it completely reasonable that he'd be a college football lifer:
"Cant blame the guy. He is making more money than most NFL coaches and is under way less pressure," one user on X pointed out.
"Well nfl sucks and college football is elite so this is logical," another remarked.
"This dude has a great job. Getting paid 11+ Mil a year at IU. Why the hell would you take a pay cut to go coach in the NFL?" a third asked.
"Honestly I can see that in him."
In 15 seasons as a head coach, Cignetti has never had a losing record and is 145-37 overall. But while his accomplishments at IUP, Elon and James Madison are noteworthy, they pale in comparison to what he's achieved at Indiana over these past two seasons and this one in particular.
Whether Indiana finish the job with a national title or finish the year 15-1, he has set the program up for sustained success that could last for years.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Jan 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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