The worst-kept secret on the college football coaching carousel is now official. Former Carolina Panthers and Baylor Bears head coach Matt Rhule is now the man tasked with returning the Nebraska Cornhuskers to their former glory.
The school made the official announcement on Saturday morning after completing their 2022 regular season on Friday with a win over Iowa.
The future is bright in Lincoln.
Introducing Matt Rhule: Head Coach, Nebraska Football#GBR pic.twitter.com/yvGE9mWYnh
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) November 26, 2022
Rhule’s reign in the NFL was brief and unsuccessful. In his first two seasons with the Panthers, Rhule was unable to get much of anything going, finishing 5-11 and 5-12, respectively. After a disastrous 1-4 start this season, he was fired.
However, Rhule’s reputation as a program-builder in the college ranks remains very respected. In four seasons as head coach of the Temple Owls, he went from a 2-10 first year to back-to-back 10-win seasons by his third and fourth years. That earned him a chance to rebuild the Baylor program from the ashes of the Art Briles scandal and after a 1-11 first season he got the Bears back to 11-3 and a Sugar Bowl appearance in Year 3.
As any longtime college football fan would tell you, there was a time when Nebraska was considered one of the elite programs in the nation, winning five national titles, including three in the 1990s. However, the program fell off in the 21st century and has been a shell of its former self in recent years.
If anyone can come in and rebuild the program, it might just be Rhule.
The football world had some strong reactions to the news of Rhule’s hiring, including the fact that he could have just sat on his butt next year and collected the $40 million he was owed by Carolina.
Matt Rhule is passing up sitting on his ass for 40 million dollars to go coach in Nebraska
— ¡BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL! (@edsbs) November 25, 2022
If the Carolina Panthers agreed to pay me $40 million to not do any work I would choose not to do any work but I guess Matt Rhule is built different
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) November 26, 2022
Matt Rhule is the definition of a program builder.
His 1st yr at Temple (2013): 2-10
His last 2 yrs (‘15, ‘16): 10 wins both yrsHis 1st yr at Baylor (2017): 1-11
His last yr (2019): 11 wins, played in Big 12 title & NY6 BowlNebraska made an excellent decision.
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) November 25, 2022
according to this October tweet Matt Rhule's options are
—getting paid $40 million
—getting paid $40 million and being head coach of a college football team, a job with 80 hour weeks and constant criticism
for some reason he has chosen option Bhttps://t.co/oHbZxyZ1WH— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) November 26, 2022
Matt Rhule got an eight-year contract from Nebraska.
Finesse God. pic.twitter.com/Crr3VwYufz
— Dean Jones (@DeanJones_) November 26, 2022
A note that seems impossible: Matt Rhule beat an AP-ranked opponent at Temple more recently than Nebraska beat a ranked opponent
— Matt Brown (@MattBrownCFB) November 26, 2022
Welcome to Nebraska @CoachMattRhule
🌽🌽🌽🌽🌽🌽🌽 https://t.co/WNcShjxztQ
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) November 26, 2022
[Nebraska]
