Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork releases statement in formal announcement of Jimbo Fisher's firing

Jimbo Fisher is out at Texas A&M. After the news broke, Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork released a statement on the university’s decision.

“After very careful analysis of all the components related to Texas A&M football, I recommended to President Welsh and then Chancellor Sharp that a change in the leadership of the program was necessary in order for Aggie football to reach our full potential and they accepted my decision,” Bjork wrote. “We appreciate Coach Fisher’s time here at Texas A&M and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

The Aggies will have to pay out a record $75 million buyout to Fisher on the way out after starting the season 6-4. Previously, Gus Malzahn held the record buyout paid to a college coach at $21.45 million by Auburn. For reference, last season 15 schools paid a collective $72 million to buy out their coaches’ respective contracts.

Fisher arrived in College Station back in 2018 after an impressive tenure at Florida State and was expected to bring the Aggies back to national prominence. After all, he had a championship under his belt after leading the Seminoles to a national title in 2013 — but never achieved the same heights with Texas A&M. 

In just under six years as head coach, Fisher coached the Aggies to a 45-25 record, including being 27-21 in SEC play over that time. Compare that to Texas A&M’s previous coach, Kevin Sumlin, who finished his six-year tenure in College Station with a 51-26 record, but was far behind Fisher’s SEC record going 15-17 in conference play. 

The timing of Fisher’s release is interesting as the news comes as his Aggies defeated Mississippi State 51-10 in what is arguably the best win of the season for Texas A&M — it even made them bowl-eligible for the first time since 2021. But that’s the issue.

Texas A&M had incredibly high hopes for Fisher in College Station. Aside from finishing the COVID-shortened season 9-1 and finishing No. 5 in the final College Football Playoff Rankings, the Aggies never achieved any great accolades under the now-former head coach.

Elijah Robinson named Texas A&M interim head coach

With Fisher out, Texas A&M associate head coach Elijah Robinson is expected to serve as the interim head coach for the Aggies, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Texas A&M and Robinson have two regular season games remaining, plus a bowl game this winter.

Robinson joined the Texas A&M staff in 2018, first as the defensive line coach. After four years in the role, he was promoted to assistant head coach and run game coordinator in January of 2022. Robinson had stints as an assistant coach at Baylor, Temple and Penn State before coming to Texas A&M. 

Robinson coached the defensive line for former Baylor and NFL head coach Matt Rhule for four seasons at Baylor (2017) and Temple (2014-16). During that span, Robinson mentored seven players that earned all-conference accolades.

On3’s Barkley Truax and Nick Kosko also contributed to this article.