$6.3B NFL Side Coach Likely to Replace Mike Gundy, Backed by Strong Oklahoma State Ties – Report

After a disastrous 2024 season that saw Oklahoma State lose all games after Week 3 and a 1-2 start to the 2025 season, the program has sacked its longtime head coach, Mike Gundy. He was the longest-serving coach at a single program, joining the Cowboys in 2001 and becoming their head coach in 2005. For now, offensive coordinator Doug Meacham is named interim head coach; however, the search has started for a permanent head coach. A former Cowboys QB’s name has come up as a prime candidate.

“Cowboy Football reached an unprecedented level of success and national prominence under Coach Gundy’s leadership. I believe I speak for OSU fans everywhere when I say that we are grateful for all he did to raise the standard and show us all what is possible for Oklahoma State football,” said OSU’s athletic director Chad Weiberg in a statement.

Gundy, 58, was in his 21st season as the head coach and most recently saw Oklahoma State make it to the Big 12 championship game in 2023. Despite the firing, a clause in Gundy’s contract enables him to pick his successor, and by the looks of it, it’s the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator.

Analysts Richard Johnson, Chris Hummer, and Shehan Jeyarajah appeared in a recent CBS Sports podcast episode and discussed former OSU QB Zac Robinson as a prime candidate for the head coaching job. “I think that the name to note, I think, is Zac Robinson because I think how Zac Robinson’s candidacy, so to speak, for this job goes, I think will kind of show you a little bit of where the wind is blowing with who’s kind of steering the ship here,” said Richard Johnson. Chris Hummer agreed with Johnson for a good reason.

Hummer said that there are other candidates, like Barry Odom and Dana Holgorsen, who are being considered by the program. However, Robinson’s close ties with the boosters make him the most probable candidate. “Holistically, yes, I tend to agree. Zac Robinson is a name that’s gonna have a ton of backing there from the booster class. He is a soft transition out of the Mike Gundy era, if you will, given his ties there. And I mean, it’s in Mike Gundy’s contract. He gets to consult on the next hire, so maybe he consults Zac Robinson’s party.”

Zach Robinson played for Oklahoma State as a QB from 2005-2009 under Gundy himself and was selected by the New England Patriots in the seventh round. Although his NFL playing career was short-lived, Robinson went on to become an assistant QBs coach at the Los Angeles Rams, helping them to win the 2022 Super Bowl. In the 2021 and 2023 seasons, Robinson oversaw a top-5 passing offense for the team. Now at the Atlanta Falcons as their offensive coordinator, a head coaching job could take him back to Stillwater. And it’s not just because of Chris Hummer and Johnson’s take; the possibility of the move is quite high.

Robinson’s move to Oklahoma State to replace Mike Gundy has some hurdles

Mike Gundy, in his long-time stint with Oklahoma State, led the team to eight 10-win seasons and also won the Big 12 title in 2011, finishing 3rd in the AP poll. Lately, though, the program has lagged in the NIL era, with recruitment classes getting weaker every year (41st nationally in 2025 and 50th in 2024). Robinson, 38, an Oklahoma State loyal, brings a renewed and modern-era approach that could pay dividends for the program.

“I can confirm Zac Robinson is the clear-cut, No. 1 target. There was mutual interest last spring, and that remains today. Tricky hire timing-wise with the Falcons’ final regular season game being Dec. 29. OSU’s season ends Nov. 29,” said Pistol Guys’ host Carson Cunningham. Everything surely then points towards Robinson coming to Oklahoma State. However, the timings also need to match for the hire.

Robinson is currently contractually bound to the Falcons until 2027. Even if OSU agrees to pay the buyout, Robinson would only be free to take up another job when the NFL season ends in January. On the other hand, Oklahoma State, like other programs, may tend to hire the head coach in December after the CFB regular season ends, mismatching the timings. Although if the Falcons are eliminated early, a move could surely open up. The Falcons’ OC played under Mike Gundy and is well aware of the Big 12 culture, and that’s why we could see OSU waiting a month after December before finalizing the hire.