Coaching in football is a tough profession, especially because coaches seem to always be at risk of losing their job after a bad season. Most coaches understand that status goes with the territory, but it’s rare for one to admit it to the media.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has bounced around a bit in his career, as he’s also coached at Temple, Baylor and the NFL’s Panthers over the past decade. Rhule addressed the topic of job security earlier this week, and he invoked a surprising comparison to make his point.
“This is a life we’ve chosen. This world, to me, is always like the mafia,” Rhule said Monday, via The Athletic’s Mitch Sherman. “You get hired, eventually you get whacked, and you live as much as you can in between.”
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Although Rhule chose to leave Temple for Baylor and Baylor for the Panthers, he was fired by Carolina last year. The veteran coach seems to understand how impatient boosters can get regarding their football teams, which is especially relevant at a school with a large fan base such as Nebraska.
Rhule seems to be guiding Nebraska with a sense of urgency, and he’s already helped the Cornhuskers get better. Nebraska is 5–5 this year—the first time since 2019 they’ve hit the five-win mark—and have a chance to play in a bowl game for the first time since 2016 with just one more win.
