Coach Matt Rhule Set to Leave Nebraska Cornhuskers for NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Shocking Move
In a seismic shift that’s rattling the college football world, Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule is reportedly set to depart Lincoln for the NFL, accepting a lucrative multi-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sources close to the situation confirm that the Buccaneers have offered Rhule a five-year, $58 million deal, luring him back to the professional ranks with full control over football operations—a role he’s long coveted.
Rhule, who took over Nebraska in 2023, was in the midst of a promising rebuild in Lincoln. After leading the Huskers to their first winning season in nearly a decade and securing a top-15 recruiting class for 2025, many believed he was in for the long haul. His departure comes as a surprise not just for the Nebraska faithful but for college football analysts nationwide who saw his disciplined, developmental approach as a perfect cultural fit for the storied Big Ten program.
Yet the NFL has always tugged at Rhule’s ambition. His previous stint with the Carolina Panthers (2020–2022) was marred by a revolving door of quarterbacks and front-office dysfunction. Still, his time in Carolina provided invaluable experience, and the Buccaneers believe he’s ready for a second act—this time with full autonomy. The Glazer family, owners of the Buccaneers, were reportedly impressed with Rhule’s transformative track record at Temple, Baylor, and most recently Nebraska, and see him as the long-term answer to stabilize a franchise that has struggled for consistency post-Tom Brady.
Tampa Bay’s offer reportedly includes control over roster decisions, staffing, and draft strategy. Rhule is expected to bring several key assistants from Nebraska with him, including defensive coordinator Tony White and strength coach Corey Campbell, both instrumental in the Huskers’ 2024 defensive resurgence.
The move leaves Nebraska in a tough spot, scrambling to find a new head coach before the start of summer workouts. Athletic Director Trev Alberts, who initially championed Rhule’s hire, is already fielding calls from high-profile candidates, but sources suggest the Huskers will aim to maintain continuity by potentially promoting from within or targeting a coach with Big Ten experience.
For Rhule, this marks a bold career pivot—one filled with both opportunity and pressure. The Buccaneers are in the midst of a retool, with a young quarterback and emerging talent on both sides of the ball. With Rhule’s reputation for building culture and discipline, the franchise hopes he can replicate the kind of turnaround he orchestrated at Baylor, where he inherited a broken program and turned it into a Big 12 contender in just three seasons.
As Rhule prepares to trade Nebraska’s blackshirts for Florida’s palm trees, one thing is certain: he’s betting big on himself. And once again, all eyes will be on Matt Rhule to see if he can turn another struggling team into a powerhouse.
