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The 2025 football coaching carousel has been off the rails.
The college overhaul was staggering, starting with the startling James Franklin unhappy ouster from Happy Valley.
It apexed with the Kiffin Kerfuffle between Ole Miss and LSU.
Then, moving into 2026, the NFL job openings ballooned to six on Termination Monday.
But, in a carousel defined by craziness, the biggest cleat dropped Tuesday night when Baltimore sacked John Harbaugh after 18 years.
Harbaugh led the Ravens to 12 playoff trips and a Super Bowl title in his almost two decades at the helm.
ESPN NFL ace Adam Schefter reported that at least seven teams reached out to Harbaugh’s camp within 45 minutes of the news breaking.
There are only six current openings, so a team with a sitting HC is also open to firing their guy to bring Harbaugh in as a replacement.
Of course, the six openings would help Harbaugh pack his stuff and move his family.
With that, would it be easier to name the franchises that would not be interested in Harbaugh and his track record of success?
Discuss.
Hoops frustration
There is no way Stephen Pearl is going to get fired.
But in some ways, while his father’s defection secured him the gig, his decision has done Stephen few favors.
And it appears karma is calling in the loan.
Auburn has lost two heartbreakers in college basketball in the last four days.
After forcing an improbable overtime at Georgia in the very rare “down four, get fouled on a 3, make the first two FTs, miss the third on purpose and hit the put-back with less than a second on the clock” maneuver.
Then last night at Neville Arena, which has become one of the top three home-court advantages under Bruce Pearl, Auburn lost to Texas A&M 90-88 after blowing a 10-point halftime lead and a 16-point lead with 13:29 left.
And since it’s Auburn, and simply losing is not enough, it has to come with some form of emotional angst that feels like outlier everywhere else and commonplace at Auburn.
AU’s Keyshawn Murphy made a 3 just inside half-court, but after a long, Long, LONG replay review, it was waved off.
Auburn had to replace everyone — 11 of its top 12 players and its HC, so yeah every-ONE from last year’s Final Four team — but at 9-6 and all of one Quad 1 win, Stephen Pearl’s first year looks to be a difficult one.
Because, college football free agency.
Big-time honor for big-time star
You know the rules. When TFP sports editor Stephen Hargis writes high school football, we link it.
Heck, Stephen Hawking could have written about this one and we’d be talking about it.
Baylor School junior David Gabriel Georges was named MaxPreps.com national high school football player of the year.
Wow.
We’ve said for a hot minute that superstar running back will be the highest-rated high school football player ever in the 423.
From Hargis’ report: The 6-foot, 205-pounder, known nationally by his nickname “DGG,” averaged nearly 11 yards per carry in rushing for 1,756 yards and 27 touchdowns to lead Baylor to its second DII-AAA BlueCross Bowl state championship in the past four seasons.
Some of the previous Maxpreps.com national honorees include NFL stars Puka Nacua and Bijan Robinson as well as current college superstars Jeremiah Smith and Malachi Toney.
DGG is just the third junior to win the award, which began in 2006.
I still believe DGG will be the No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2027. This only reinforces that.
Man, how big is that NIL bag gonna be for this kid?
This and that
> Ah, the portal, which is a daily dose of meaningful morsels, right? We’ll start with the a possible game-changer happening in Washington, where QB1 Desmond Williams has entered the portal. Almost any and all QB1s entering the portal should surprise exactly no one on its face. But Williams could be a precedent case moving forward considering Washington claims Williams signed a deal last week and believes that contract is binding. Washington, according to The Athletic, has no intentions of releasing Williams from the contract.
> If we had a draft of “former sports stars to get arrested next” Lenny Dykstra would be the Andrew Luck of this category right? Dykstra was charged with drug possession Monday.
> NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps is resigning after the legal fallout from the Michael Jordan lawsuit. J-Mac, the floor is yours.
> WTH, Harold Reynolds? OK, maybe controversy was the goal, but MLB Network is releasing the “fan favorite” starting eight for every MLB franchise. They did the Braves earlier this week, and Reynolds put Terry Pendleton at third over some fella named Larry Jones, who is called Chipper by most folks.
> Interesting fact here that despite the terrible bowl season, the SEC went 12-5 during the regular season against other Power Four conference opponents.
> Rules, friends. Here’s Paschall on some UT portal news.
Today’s question
Which Way Wednesday starts this way:
Which job will John Harbaugh have next?
Which college coach should the Falcons approach to be their HC, Kirby Smart, Kalen DeBoer (to be back with Michael Penix) or Curt Cignetti?
Which non-pitcher is the all-time fan favorite of Atlanta Braves followers?
You know the drill: Answer some WWWs; ask some WWWs.
As for today, Jan. 7, let’s review.
Nicolas Cage is 62 today. He’s a fav simply for “Raising Arizona.”
Jeremy Renner is 55 today. He’s good, too.
Lamar Jackson is 29 today. The TV show “Fame” debuted on this day in 1982.
Rushmore of best TV shows that were based on a movie. And yeah, “M*A*S*H” is far left.