Steve Sarkisian delivers stern reminder to Arch Manning, Longhorns on why he declined NFL offers

The Texas Longhorns aren’t settling for anything less than a SEC championship and possibly a national title during the 2025 NCAA season. With Arch Manning taking over the reins udner center, Steve Sarkisian delivered a bold message to his players, after turning down NFL offers and extending his contract with the University of Texas at Austin.

Following consecutive semifinal losses in the College Football Playoffs in 2023 and 2024, the Longhorns are ready to move past their ‘learning’ stage, and finally make the National Championship Game.

It’s been a long time coming, but the Horns are once again heavy favorites in college football. Needless to say, the burnt orange nation is eager for the program to break through. With Manning commanding the huddle and Sarkisian leading on the sidelines, there’s little room for error. It’s time to strike, or as the student section at DKR- Texas Memorial Stadium would say: Hook ‘Em.

As the team gears up for spring training, Sarkisian addressed the media for the first time since last season’s finale, dropping a bold reminder for Manning and everybody in the locker room to hear.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns walks onto the field prior to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

“We’ve got a lot of unfinished business,” Sarkisian stated, via InsideTexas. “I came to the University of Texas, and I’ve said this numerous times but I want to be really clear: I didn’t come here to put on a hat to say I’m a head coach again.

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“It was a long journey to get back to this seat. I was very clear in my opening press conference and I’ve been very clear along the way, I came here to win championships.“

Contract extension

Sarkisian had signed a six-year extension on February 2024, locking his stay in Austin through the 2030 season. However, he received much interest from NFL teams after a remarkable year at the helm of the Longhorns, and thus decided to add one more year to his contract, signing a seven-year extension through 2031.

The extension has its big financial bonus, nevertheless. Sarkisian will now earn a $10.8 million salary during the 2025 campaign. Moreover, after each year his salary will gain $100,000.

It all comes at a price

Sarkisian’s remarkable turnaround for the Longhorns came at a hefty price, but it’s one that anyone in The Forty Acres will gladly accept if the school secures at least one national championship before the head coach’s tenure ends in 2031.

Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns scrambles in the second half while defended by Deonte Anderson #91 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2024 in Austin, Texas.

With Manning in the huddle, the Longhorns have their best chance at a national title since Mack Brown and Vince Young led the school to glory in 2006. Everything is falling into place for Texas, but if things go south, the party will be over, and someone’s going to have to foot the bill.