Jimbo Fisher jokes about Kirby Smart's new deal: 'I get 2-percent'

Jimbo Fisher’s 10-year contract was called robbery via Jimmy Sexton by one sportswriter last offseason, but now that several more head coaches have secured mega deals, the Texas A&M coach is getting a good laugh out of it.

Talking to Paul Finebaum at SEC Media Days, Fisher suggested that he get a cut from the salaries of guys like newly-extended coach Kirby Smart.

“(Texas A&M) wants to be the best,” Fisher said as he discussed the Aggie administration’s commitment to the program. “We’re trying to get the culture and it takes time to do things right, and they’re committed to doing that. That’s why we signed another 10-year contract, and Kirby just got one today. I told these guys, I get two percent. I was the first one to do it, so I should get two percent… All those 10-year contract guys should pay me two percent.”

The Georgia Bulldogs inked a new deal with Smart on Thursday, taking his annual salary base up from $7.13 million to $10.25 million. He is now potentially the highest-paid head coach in the NCAA. The contract runs through 2031 – as does Jimbo Fisher’s.

Another coach Fisher may come to collect a check from is Mel Tucker. After Michigan State’s run in 2021, the Spartans signed him to a 10-year deal worth $95 million.

Fisher on latest with Nick Saban: ‘We’re great’

Reporters hit Jimbo Fisher with questions about his offseason drama with Nick Saban first thing after his opening statement at SEC Media Days. The Aggies skipper chalked it up as a thing that happens between “two competitive guys,” before turning the table on the NCAA and the current NIL process.

“Listen, we’re great,” Fisher said. “Two competitive guys that go at it. Listen, we all learn from things we do in our business. Two competitive guys on a topic that is very ‘everywhere,’ as they say. There’s no rules in this thing and where it goes. Each state has a different law and everything.”

Both coaches lamented the fact that their argument occurred so publicly, with Saban’s first blow coming at a speaking event in Birmingham.

“I have great respect for Nick,” Fisher said. “Unfortunately, our thing went public and sometimes that happens in this world. Nothing’s private anymore is it? But I have great respect from Nick. And we all learned from it. I have great respect for him and the program like always.”