Bob Stoops ‘open’ to coaching in NFL, does anyone want him?
Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops prior to the game against the Baylor Bears at Floyd Casey Stadium. Baylor beat Oklahoma 41-12. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops has done great things in Norman for over a decade, and it’s always seemed like he’ll never leave the Sooners. However, it sounds like there’s a slight chance that Stoops does try to make the jump to the NFL, and he’s been courted by NFL teams in the past. It would be a longshot for Stoops to snag a head coaching gig, but nothing is impossible, especially given how successful coaches like Chip Kelly have been when moving up from the college to the NFL ranks. Then again, Kelly is a genius, and not many coaches have a drop of his innovativeness or intelligence.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Bob Stoops is now “open” to coaching in the NFL, and this marks a change from his philosophy on leaving Oklahoma for the pros. I doubt he ends up pulling the trigger and leaving, and that would also require there to be an interested NFL team. That said, it’s possible and interesting to hear that it’s open, even though the level of his openness is just about a total guess.
Stoops has been a great college coach, but projecting his ability to transition successfully and be a solid NFL head coach is tricky business. He isn’t as good as Chip Kelly or Jim Harbaugh, but it’s also hard to believe that he’s a whole lot worse than other coaches who have been given chances to coach in the NFL. You know, like Greg Schiano, who was mercifully fired today by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bill O’Brien is the hottest name among college coaches in NFL coaching circles and James Franklin is up there as well, but maybe it’s worth keeping an eye on Stoops.