Matt Rhule didn’t mince words this week when asked about the status of special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler. The Nebraska head coach, never one to shy away from telling it like it is, made it clear: he wants coaches who are all-in. And right now, it sure sounds like Ekeler isn’t.
“You better have guys that are in the foxhole with you,” Rhule said during an appearance on Sports Nightly. “If someone’s one foot in, one foot out, that’s not my issue, that’s their issue.”
That’s not exactly a warm endorsement for a coach still technically on staff.
To be clear, Mike Ekeler hasn’t officially left Nebraska. But the writing feels like it’s already on the wall.
There have been persistent reports linking him to a return to USC - where he coached back in 2013 - and Rhule’s comments don’t sound like someone fighting to keep a key assistant around. In fact, they sound more like a coach ready to move on.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a Nebraska assistant move on under Rhule, but the tone here is different. When defensive coordinator Tony White left for Florida State last offseason, Rhule kept things respectful and professional.
There was no public tension, no veiled shots. This situation with Ekeler?
It’s got a little more edge.
Rhule even acknowledged that Ekeler “has some decisions to make,” before adding, “If he doesn’t want to be here, that is what it is.” That’s about as close as you’ll get to a coach publicly holding the door open.
And it’s not like Rhule hasn’t praised Ekeler in the past - he has. He’s talked about Ekeler’s teaching ability, his coaching acumen, and the progression of his units.
But even those compliments now come with qualifiers. Rhule noted that Nebraska can “keep that,” referring to the teaching structure and methodology Ekeler implemented.
Translation: we liked what he did, but we’re confident we can replicate it without him.
Perhaps the most telling comment came when Rhule addressed the performance of Nebraska’s special teams in 2025. After two rough years under former coordinator Ed Foley, Ekeler’s unit showed real signs of life. But Rhule wasn’t exactly handing out gold stars.
“Our goal was to, ‘Hey, we’re going to make a jump this year. We’ll outplay Iowa on special teams.’
And that didn’t happen,” Rhule said. “So there’s a lot more meat on the bone that we want to do special teams-wise.”
That’s a pretty direct shot, especially when you consider how much improvement fans saw on the field. It suggests that while Ekeler helped elevate the unit, Rhule still sees untapped potential - and maybe a ceiling with the current setup.
So where does that leave things?
Officially, Ekeler is still a member of the Nebraska coaching staff. Unofficially, it feels like the exit ramp is approaching fast.
Rhule doesn’t seem interested in sweet-talking his way into keeping a coach who might already have one foot out the door. And with USC reportedly circling, it may just be a matter of time.
If Nebraska wants to keep Ekeler around - and that’s a big if at this point - it’s going to take some serious behind-the-scenes work. Athletic director Troy Dannen might need to step in and play peacemaker. But based on Rhule’s comments, the head coach may already be preparing for life after Ekeler.
One thing’s for sure: Rhule is setting a clear standard for his staff. You’re either all-in, or you’re out. And right now, Mike Ekeler’s status looks anything but certain.