Indiana's Curt Cignetti shuts down NFL coaching speculation: 'I've always been more of a college football guy'

Nine NFL teams entered the offseason looking to capable their caput coaching vacancies, and portion immoderate judge Indiana manager Curt Cignetti would beryllium a beardown acceptable for respective of those openings, helium sees it differently. 

Speaking to the media connected Saturday up of the College Football Playoff nationalist title crippled successful Miami, Cignetti unopen down speculation of having immoderate involvement successful making a leap to the NFL. 

Indiana caput manager Curt Cignetti speaks during media time up of the College Football Playoff nationalist title crippled betwixt the Miami Hurricanes and Indiana. The crippled volition beryllium played Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, successful Miami, Florida, connected Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

"I made that determination a agelong clip agone now," Cignetti said, via CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello. "Chuck Amato, NC State, successful 2000. I had a accidental to spell with the [Green Bay] Packers. Tommy Rossley, Mike Sherman, [Brett] Favre was successful his heyday. I declined the opportunity. I astir took it. That's erstwhile I made the last decision."

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"I've ever been much of a assemblage shot guy."

Cignetti has had respective coaching stints successful assemblage shot but has ne'er crossed into the NFL. His astir notable – anterior to his occurrence astatine Indiana – was during his 5 seasons astatine James Madison, wherever helium led the Dukes to 3 league titles and an FCS nationalist title appearance. He near for Indiana with a 52-9 record. 

Indiana caput manager Curt Cignetti walks connected the tract earlier the Peach Bowl NCAA assemblage shot playoff semifinal against Oregon successful Atlanta, Georgia, connected Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Cignetti’s remarks travel amid speculation that Las Vegas could beryllium a imaginable fit, arsenic Indiana backmost and Heisman Trophy victor Fernando Mendoza volition apt beryllium taken by the Raiders with the archetypal wide prime successful April’s draft. 

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With those rumors settled, Cignetti’s and Mendoza’s absorption tin instrumentality to Monday’s rubric crippled against Miami. 

The Hoosiers person gone 26-2 implicit the past 2 seasons nether Cignetti and lone Miami stands betwixt them and the program’s archetypal nationalist championship.

Indiana backmost Fernando Mendoza throws a walk arsenic the Oregon Ducks look the Indiana Hoosiers successful the Peach Bowl connected Jan. 9, 2026, astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium successful Atlanta, Georgia. (Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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The CFP nationalist title crippled volition instrumentality spot astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami Gardens, Florida connected Monday astatine 7:30 p.m. ET. 

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