Could Ryan Day depart from Ohio State for the NFL? Here’s what he had to say.

Ryan Day’s name had likely already been considered by NFL teams before he led Ohio State to a national championship, and now that achievement only adds to his appeal.

Day, who has spent the majority of his coaching career in college football, began as a tight ends coach at his alma mater, New Hampshire, in 2002. While he’s mostly focused on the collegiate level, he has also had stints in the NFL, with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015 and the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. These experiences were his final stops before Urban Meyer brought him to Ohio State as offensive coordinator in 2017, and then-athletic director Gene Smith promoted him to head coach two years later.

So, could he ever return to the NFL? Day addressed the possibility on “The Steam Room” podcast with Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley of TNT.

 

“I would never say, ‘I would never consider it,’ because you don’t know how things can change,” Day explained. “I had a great experience in the NFL for two years. It’s a great league, but right now, the impact we can make on young people is more significant in college. That’s why I got into coaching—to make that difference, and that’s what I want to keep doing.”

Day’s comments highlight his current priorities after achieving his first national championship. At just 45 years old, he boasts a 70-10 record as head coach, including a 46-5 mark in the Big Ten and a 5-3 record in College Football Playoff games. His achievements include two Big Ten titles, a 2019 Big Ten Coach of the Year award, 36 NFL Draft picks (10 of which were first-round selections), and a host of award winners and All-Americans.

This past season marked the second time in his tenure that Ohio State didn’t have a Heisman finalist, but with the national title now added to his resume, he joins the ranks of OSU’s elite coaches, becoming the third to win a national championship following Jim Tressel (2002) and Urban Meyer (2014). Day’s focus remains on reaching even higher milestones, particularly joining a select group in OSU history.

“Woody Hayes is the last coach to win multiple national championships at Ohio State,” Day said. “That’s something I’ve now set for myself—to be the next coach to win multiple titles. There’s still a lot more to be done.”

Additionally, Day recognizes the broader impact his position holds. He’s aware of the platform he has as head coach of one of the most prominent teams in sports and isn’t willing to give it up without a significant reason.

“This position can have a huge impact across the country and the state of Ohio,” he noted. “I want to continue to use it to do good with my family through various charities. Every year, I learn more about what we can accomplish and how we can help.”

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