When Mike Ekeler decided to leave Nebraska, it left fans buzzing with questions. How could head coach Matt Rhule let such a key figure slip away?
And why would Ekeler, the special teams coordinator, choose to leave, especially after being offered a significant raise mid-season? Ekeler's recent press conference, his first since joining USC, offers some insights-though perhaps not in the way he intended.
One of the standout moments was Ekeler's remark about Rhule's absence from special teams meetings. "The last place I was at, the head coach never came to one," Ekeler noted when asked about USC head coach Lincoln Riley's involvement. "I'd love for that to happen, it just places that type of importance on the teams."
This comment struck a chord with Nebraska fans, who are already questioning Rhule after a tough season finish. It seems to suggest that Rhule might not have been as engaged as he should have been-a perception Ekeler likely wanted to emphasize. However, there's another quote that might better explain the tension between Ekeler and Rhule.
Reflecting on his time at Nebraska, Ekeler mentioned, "That was the first time in my career that I had never coached on defense. I enjoyed that and enjoyed the experience...but it was kind of on cruise control."
Nebraska's special teams did see a remarkable improvement, climbing to No. 12 in ESPN's FPI rankings from No. 112 the previous year. Yet, there were still occasional missteps. When whispers of Ekeler's departure began, Rhule acknowledged the unit's progress but also pointed out there was room for growth-a comment that seemed to signal he wasn't overly concerned about Ekeler's exit.
If Ekeler mentioned being on "cruise control" during discussions with Rhule about expanding his role, it's easy to see why it might not have been well-received. Nebraska fans likely wouldn't be thrilled to hear a coach describe their job as mundane.
Ekeler's departure stirred emotions, and rightly so-he's talented at what he does. But looking ahead, Nebraska needs a unified team, fully committed to the program's success in 2026. It seems that alignment wasn't present between Ekeler and Rhule.