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NFL insider names Bill O'Brien, Matt Campbell as college football coaches who could make NFL move

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•about 20 hours•

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NFL insider names Bill O'Brien, Matt Campbell as college football coaches who could make NFL move
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images/ Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini named Bill O’Brien and Matt Campbell as two college coaches who could make a move to the NFL this cycle.

While she doesn’t anticipate them to actually be the winners of the NFL coaching lottery in 2025, she mentioned to keep an eye on them. O’Brien has NFL experience, having previously coached the Houston Texans, while Campbell has yet to make the jump.

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So watch O’Brien and Campbell closely.

“Bill O’Brien is the name of watching,” Russini said on Pardon My Take. “I know he loves Boston College, and they love him up there, but that’s a name I’m watching. Matt Campbell is a name I’m watching. The question was, could I see these college coaches maybe getting an opportunity? Like, yeah, but I haven’t heard any of these yet, but those are the names if I had a guess at this point. I’d keep an eye on that.”

O’Brien practically shut down the NFL rumors for this cycle at least. He didn’t rule out a return, but it doesn’t seem like he’s going anywhere.

“I really appreciate what BC’s done for me,” O’Brien said, via the Adam Schefter Podcast. “BC’s made a big commitment to football here. You can never say never, I’m not someone who can forecast the future or things like that. I like where we’re at at BC. I like our future.”

O’Brien went 7-6 in his first season with Boston College, losing the Pinstripe Bowl. He’s 22-15 as a college head coach with Penn State and BC. Unlike Campbell, O’Brien had seven seasons of NFL head coaching experience.

He went 52-48 with the Houston Texans, winning the AFC South four times and going 2-4 in the postseason.

Campbell is coming off the best season in program history at Iowa State, going 11-3 and winning the Pop-Tarts Bowl. He is 99-66 with the Cyclones and Toledo in his career.

Campbell coached Iowa State to the Big 12 Championship, but fell short to Arizona State and thus, the College Football Playoff.

So far, Dan Lanning rumors and the latest Steve Sarkisian report. O’Brien and Campbell are likely back with Boston College and Iowa State, at least for 2025.