Adam Schefter moved quickly this week to cut down growing speculation connecting Curt Cignetti to the NFL, saying there has been no indication the Indiana coach is looking to leave Bloomington.
“I haven’t heard anything about Curt Cignetti going to the NFL,” Schefter said on Wednesday's Pat McAfee Show. “Nobody has said to me that he’s looking to go to the NFL.”
The comments came right before Indiana’s College Football Playoff semifinal, as Cignetti’s rapid turnaround of the Hoosiers has fueled outside interest. Indiana is playing for a spot in the national championship game behind a roster stacked with pro-level talent and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft.
"I haven't heard anything about Curt Cignetti going to the NFL..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 7, 2026
Nobody has said to me that he's looking to go to the NFL" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/zyA8knH3EJ
Cignetti’s longtime mentor, Nick Saban, agreed with Schefter, questioning whether Cignetti would even want to make the jump. Saban explained the challenges college coaches face transitioning to the NFL without prior league experience. He also cited differences in roster construction, salary caps and organizational structure.
“I’ve never talked to Curt about going to the NFL,” Saban told McAfee. “I don’t really know that he has any interest in doing that.”
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Indiana moved swiftly in October to secure its coach, signing Cignetti to an eight-year extension worth approximately $11.6 million annually. Any postseason success could raise that number again, particularly if NFL teams come calling.
Cignetti also benefits from something the NFL cannot offer, which significant booster backing. Billionaire Mark Cuban has reportedly provided major financial support for Indiana’s transfer portal efforts, further strengthening the program’s long-term outlook.
For now, Cignetti’s focus remains firmly on the Hoosiers’ historic postseason run. After that, we'll see where the road takes him but it doesn't seem to go far from Indiana.
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