Curt Cignetti Isn’t Going Anywhere-At Least Not to the NFL
MIAMI - Curt Cignetti’s name has been buzzing around the coaching carousel for months now. From big-name college programs to potential NFL openings, the Indiana head coach has been linked to just about every job with a vacancy and a national spotlight. But if you’re an IU fan worried about losing the architect of the Hoosiers’ stunning turnaround, you can exhale-at least for now.
Cignetti, a Pennsylvania native, was widely believed to be a strong contender for the Penn State job when James Franklin was let go earlier this year. Given his roots and résumé, the fit made sense on paper.
But Indiana didn’t leave anything to chance. The university moved quickly, locking Cignetti into a new deal that not only keeps him in Bloomington but also ensures his staff remains among the highest-paid in college football.
That’s a clear sign of commitment from both sides-and a major statement from a program that’s no longer content with being an afterthought in the Big Ten.
Still, one job looms larger than the rest when it comes to potential threats to IU’s newfound stability: the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With longtime head coach Mike Tomlin stepping down earlier this week, the opening in Pittsburgh naturally sparked fresh speculation. It’s Cignetti’s hometown team, after all, and there’s a certain poetic symmetry to the idea of him returning home to lead one of the NFL’s most storied franchises. IU fans know the connection runs deep-the Hoosiers have even borrowed a page from the Steelers' playbook, introducing their own version of the Terrible Towel that’s become a staple in Bloomington on game days.
But Cignetti put the rumors to rest on Saturday in Miami, and he didn’t mince words when asked about the possibility of making the jump to the pros.
“I’m not an NFL guy. I made that decision a long time ago. I’ve always been a college football guy,” he said.
That’s music to the ears of Hoosier Nation.
And truthfully, it tracks. Cignetti’s football DNA is steeped in the college game.
His father was a college coach, and Curt has spent his entire career developing young players, building programs, and navigating the unique rhythms of Saturdays in the fall. He’s also seen firsthand how even the best college minds can struggle in the NFL.
Nick Saban’s brief, turbulent stint with the Miami Dolphins is one of the more famous cautionary tales-and Cignetti, who has long admired and modeled aspects of his approach after Saban, clearly took that lesson to heart.
Right now, Cignetti has his eyes on something much bigger than job speculation: a national championship. His top-ranked Hoosiers (15-0) are set to square off against No.
10 Miami (13-2) on Monday night in Miami Gardens, Florida. It’s the kind of high-stakes matchup that programs dream about-and just a few years ago, the idea of Indiana being on this stage would’ve been unthinkable.
But under Cignetti, the unthinkable has become reality. He’s not just building a winner-he’s reshaping the identity of Indiana football. And based on his words and actions, he’s not finished yet.