Indiana Hoosiers’ Curt Cignetti Is Being Linked To Big-Time NFL Head Coaching Job
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
If Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti wants to land an NFL head coaching job in the near future, he’s certainly building up a significant case.
Curt Cignetti’s squad made easy work of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl by a final score of 38-3. Up next, they’ll face the No. 5-ranked Oregon Ducks in the Peach Bowl and College Football Playoff semifinal.
Like any top NCAA football coach, Cignetti has naturally been mentioned in NFL head coaching rumors. Such is life when you have the type of season Indiana has enjoyed, led by Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
After Thursday’s Rose Bowl victory, some folks on X/Twitter started linking Cignetti to the Las Vegas Raiders. Many expect them to fire head coach Pete Carroll after the 2025 season.
Jason McIntyre of Fox Sports made the case if the Raiders draft Fernando Mendoza.
It’s a long shot, but do the Raiders try to bring Cignetti to Vegas with Mendoza? I can’t imagine he’d leave Indiana but …
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) January 1, 2026
“It will never happen, but Curt Cignetti looks like he should be coaching the Raiders. He scowls on the sideline like Gruden used to, doesn’t smile much at all does he?” a user asked.
It will never happen, but Curt Cignetti looks like he should be coaching the Raiders. He scowls on the sideline like Gruden used to, doesn’t smile much at all does he?#Raiders #raidernation
— Bill Williams (@imjustabill1970) January 1, 2026
“If the Raiders were only allowed to take 1 person associated with Indiana this offseason, it’d probably be Mendoza. But Cignetti would be intriguing. This Hoosiers team is coached beautifully. They do everything well,” said another.
If the Raiders were only allowed to take 1 person associated with Indiana this offseason, it’d probably be Mendoza.
But Cignetti would be intriguing. This Hoosiers team is coached beautifully. They do everything well.
— Jason McCallum (@JMacPGATour) January 1, 2026
Minority owner Tom Brady strongly indicated that Vegas will draft Mendoza if given the opportunity. So make of that as you will.
Curt Cignetti Just Signed A Lucrative Extension With Indiana
In October, Cignetti signed a lucrative eight-year contract extension worth $93 million, as ESPN reported at the time.
It would be difficult for Cignetti to abruptly leave Indiana after building up such a special foundation here. But if the Hoosiers go on to win the national championship? Maybe he’d do what Jim Harbaugh did by going to the NFL after climbing the NCAA mountaintop.
But Vegas fans who want Cignetti better keep their expectations reasonable. Even if he has an interest in going to the NFL, there’s no guarantee he’ll want to join the Raiders.
