In December, we learned Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson would have been Oklahoma State’s top choice to replace head coach Mike Gundy if Gundy had not accepted a contract restructure to remain with the program. Now, after back-to-back embarrassing defeats, Gundy is out as Oklahoma State’s HC, and Robinson is again on the radar.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Robinson is on the “very short list” of candidates for Gundy’s job, which Gundy held for over 20 seasons. Now 38, Robinson played collegiately under Gundy, serving as OSU’s starting quarterback from 2007-09. One of Robinson’s former college teammates, Dez Bryant, quickly took to social media after Gundy’s ouster to advocate for Robinson as the long-time coach’s replacement.
Rapoport makes clear that, as of the time of his report, there has been no contact between Robinson and OSU, which has hired a search firm to aid in its quest for its next permanent head coach. And even if the search takes an expected turn in Robinson’s direction, there could be complications.
For instance, although national signing day is not until February, most high school stars commit to colleges in December, at which point the Falcons’ season will still be ongoing. So while Robinson could hire a staff to do the bulk of the recruiting work, he would be pulling double duty for a time, and the recruits may not have as much contact with their prospective head coach as they would like.
The situation would be difficult, but not unprecedented. As Rapoport points out, then-Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis charted a similar course when he was hired as Notre Dame’s head coach during the 2004 season (of course, the collegiate landscape has changed dramatically over the last two decades).
For now, Robinson will attempt to get the Falcons’ offense and second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. back on track. After a solid Week 1 effort against the Bucs, Penix has completed 31 of 57 passes (54.4% completion rate) for 307 yards and zero touchdowns against two interceptions in his last two games combined. The team was blanked in a 30-0 drubbing at the hands of the Panthers in Week 3.
It is unclear what an inability to right the ship will do to Robinson’s status with OSU, though it will obviously damage his NFL stock. Like many Sean McVay disciples, Robinson became a popular name in coaching circles not long after he joined McVay’s Rams staff as assistant quarterbacks coach in 2019. He attracted OC interest from the Chargers and Ravens in 2023 and was one of the most popular names in the 2024 cycle, drawing OC interview requests from the Bucs, Bears, Patriots, Raiders, Saints, and Steelers in addition to the Falcons.
In his first year in charge of the Atlanta offense, which was quarterbacked first by Kirk Cousins and then by Penix, Robinson’s unit finished sixth in yards per game and 13th in points per game.
Hey, Brandon Weeden also played QB for the Cowboys so when will he be asked to come in for a HC interview? 🙂
Maybe after he begins a career in coaching?
Good he can go. All that talent they have on offense and he still doesn’t know how to utilize them. No reason for them to struggle let alone get shut out by a not so good Panthers team.
Is it that much talent? Don’t get me wrong, they need some schematic improvement and shouldn’t have been shut out by Carolina, but I see a middle of the pack group of offensive talent with a quarterback who hasn’t proven he’s good yet and a backup tackle on his blind side.
Yes, that much talent. When Mooney, Cousins and Pitts are your worst offensive talent thats a good problem….they aren’t good schematicly. I will also admit they’re under performing so I’m speaking out of both sides of my mouth, but any team would take all the offense we have in a heartbeat if they’re available.
I really like London, but that’s not a very strong pass catching group, they’re missing a right tackle, and their quarterback is still dicey. It’s not like we’re talking about top ten offensive personnel.
Falcons will probably buy his ticket to go and give a glowing recommendation.
A personality-less Mike Gundy.
HC of a major NCAA football program — you spend more time recruiting and begging for money from donors than coaching. Robinson should say no. Jeff Hafley left Boston College as HC to become the Packers DC. Now he can concentrate on football.
CFB head coaching is WAY more than just “begging for money”, and a head coach who solely “focuses on football” without the qualities of locker room leadership and commanding the players’ confidence and respect to him is not a truly great HC.
Put some more Mustard on your knowledge, Tiger, please.
It’s not 1975, buddy. Get with the times.
It is much worse now, it is begging because NIL. It is more then just dealing with ungrateful fan bases now.
That’s the old college football. College Football programs today are becoming more operational like the NFL with General Managers and the NIL
General Managers in college football take orders from the HC. It’s not like a general manager in the NFL.