Penn State made the surprising decision to part ways with head coach James Franklin after the Nittany Lions’ 3-3 start to the 2025 season. At the time, it seemed like an impulsive move given Franklin’s accomplishments with the program.
The situation may be getting more complicated, as one analyst believes that Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, both thought to be top candidates for the job, might not be interested in taking it.
Is Penn State Out of Luck on Matt Rhule and Joe Brady?
When Penn State moved on from Franklin, Rhule’s name immediately shot to the top of the list to take over the program. Rhule is a Penn State alum and has done a fantastic job rebuilding Nebraska in his two and a half seasons, making him seem like the perfect fit.
ESPN analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy agrees that Rhule and the Nittany Lions have a strong connection. However, he believes the Nebraska head coach is in a great situation in Lincoln, making it challenging for him to leave for the Penn State opening.
“Everybody’s already made the connections between Matt Rhule and Penn State and that opening, and the relationship that Matt Rhule has with the athletic director and all sorts of stuff,” McElroy said.
He later added, “To be honest with you, I think it’d be hard to leave Nebraska. He’s got a good thing going right now, and it looks like that good thing could continue here in the weeks to come.”
McElroy makes a strong point. Rhule is off to his best start as Nebraska’s head coach, sitting at 6-2 after eight games this season.
The Cornhuskers’ offense ranks seventh in the Big Ten according to PFSN’s CFB OFFi metric, while the defense holds the same spot on PFSN’s CFB DEFi metric, both rankings higher than Penn State’s this season.
While Penn State may be a slightly higher-profile job, there’s no guarantee Rhule would be willing to leave his current role for the Nittany Lions.
While Rhule is likely Penn State’s top candidate, Brady’s name has also been mentioned as a contender for the job. Brady has excelled as the Bills’ offensive coordinator and has proven college success, serving as the passing game coordinator for LSU’s 2019 national championship team.
However, McElroy also believes Brady may pass on the Penn State job. He’s expected to be a candidate for multiple NFL openings this offseason, making it difficult to turn down a pro opportunity for a college role.
“He’s on the short list to become a head coach at the college level at some point, but leaving the NFL would be tough, because Joe Brady is also on the short list to become a head coach in the NFL,” McElroy said.
Once again, McElroy makes a valid point. While Brady has college coaching experience, it’s hard to imagine him turning down an NFL opportunity if one comes his way.
Penn State’s coaching search becomes much narrower and less exciting without Brady or Rhule. While there’s still a chance either could take the role, McElroy’s skepticism underscores why Penn State may have moved too quickly in firing Franklin.