Indiana coach Curt Cignetti dismisses NFL rumors, focusing on national championship glory
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti has made it clear that he's not headed to the NFL anytime soon. Despite internet rumors linking him to the Pittsburgh Steelers, following Mike Tomlin's departure, Cignetti remains a college football lifer. With Indiana 15-0 and a potential national championship on the horizon, Cignetti's focus is on the game at hand.
"I’m not an NFL guy," Cignetti stated, via On3’s Brett McMurphy. "I made that decision a long time ago. I’ve always been a college football guy."
Cignetti's coaching record speaks for itself. In nearly two full seasons as Indiana's head coach, he's 26-2. Prior to that, he amassed an impressive 145-37 record across multiple colleges. His ability to build a veteran-laden team has been a key factor in Indiana's success, with some attributing their winning streak to this experience.
"No, I think it helps us a ton, but that’s what we look for, too," Cignetti said. "When I came, you know, it was a quick process, a three-day hiring process. We had 10 offensive starters in the transfer portal and one returner on defense. So we were down to 40 scholarships by day three. We needed to hit the portal hard. And we signed 22 guys who have been two- or three-year starters with consistent production."
As Indiana prepares for the national championship game against Miami, Cignetti's team will showcase their veteran depth, including QB Fernando Mendoza, this year's Heisman winner and a transfer from Cal. The game airs Monday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
So, while the NFL may be a distant dream, Cignetti's focus remains on the task at hand: leading Indiana to a perfect season and national championship glory.
