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Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12

Florida State’s Fisher emerging as a top QB coach

FILE - In this Aug. 10, 2014, file photo, Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, left, and quarterback Jameis Winston (5) pose for a photo during their NCAA college football media day in Tallahassee, Fla. Fisher may be the pre-eminent quarterback coach in college football. He has had eight quarterbacks drafted to the NFL since 2001, works with reigning Heisman winner Jamies Winston and two of his former Seminole disciples are expected to start for other major college programs this year. (AP Photo/Phil Sears, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 10, 2014, file photo, Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, left, and quarterback Jameis Winston (5) pose for a photo during their NCAA college football media day in Tallahassee, Fla. Fisher may be the pre-eminent quarterback coach in college football. He has had eight quarterbacks drafted to the NFL since 2001, works with reigning Heisman winner Jamies Winston and two of his former Seminole disciples are expected to start for other major college programs this year. (AP Photo/Phil Sears, File) FILE - In this Aug. 10, 2014, file photo, Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, left, and quarterback Jameis Winston (5) pose for a photo during their NCAA college football media day in Tallahassee, Fla. Fisher may be the pre-eminent quarterback coach in college football. He has had eight quarterbacks drafted to the NFL since 2001, works with reigning Heisman winner Jamies Winston and two of his former Seminole disciples are expected to start for other major college programs this year. (AP Photo/Phil Sears, File)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – The foundation of Jimbo Fisher’s coaching philosophy began during rides home with his father after Pop Warner games. His dad would pepper him in the car with a single question: Why?

John Fisher would ask the young quarterback why did he make a certain throw? Why didn’t he make different decisions?

The talks continued through high school, and three decades later Florida State’s Fisher has used those father-son bonding moments to arguably become the pre-eminent quarterback coach in college football.

Fisher has had eight quarterbacks drafted to the NFL since 2001, works with reigning Heisman winner Jamies Winston and two of his former Seminole disciples are expected to start for other major college programs this year.

“There’s one thing I ask them: Why?” Fisher said. “Why’d you do that? Why did you not do that? Why was that successful? Why was that not successful?