We’ve heard a lot about Chip Kelly this week, but it could have been two Pac-12 head coaches interviewing for NFL jobs if University of Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian decided to throw his hat into the ring.
According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network, Sarkisian has turned down overtures from NFL teams asking him to interview for head coaching jobs this week. Per Breer, Sarkisian has aspirations to coach in the league, but has not been interested in the teams that have expressed a desire to speak to him.
It’s fair to wonder what team would interest Sarkisian enough for him to make the jump to the professional level. Sarkisian turned down an interview with the Rams last year and he passed on a shot to become the Raiders’ head coach in 2007 when he was USC’s quarterbacks coach. They eventually hired Lane Kiffin, who was then on the USC staff with Sarkisian and lasted 20 games in the Oakland job.
Sarkisian has a 26-25 record in four years at Washington and helped turn Titans quarterback Jake Locker into a first-round pick during his time with the team. NFL teams obviously like Sarkisian, although their ardor may dim in the coming years if he keeps saying thanks but no thanks when they come calling.