Lane Kiffin has built a powerhouse at Ole Miss. However, the reward for his success is a tug-of-war for his services. Earlier, it began from within the SEC’s biggest rivals. Now, teams in the pros are also showing interest in the Rebels’ head coach.

We know Kiffin is at the top of Florida’s list. According to The Athletic, the Rebels HC is also seeing some “interest” from the $6.7 billion Tennessee Titans. The franchise fired Brian Callahan after a disappointing start to their 2025 season with No. 1 pick Cam Ward as the QB. The coaching search started with top coordinators in the NFL. As per the latest report, the Titans are also looking at college.

While Kiffin has conquered college, the NFL is a different arena altogether. And Kiffin, unfortunately, doesn’t have a lot to bank on. He joined the Raiders in 2007 but was promptly fired after the team went 1-3 the following season. That 5-15, .250 doesn’t really paint a good picture for him. It’s also been nearly 20 years since he was in that atmosphere.

There have been countless examples of successful college coaches failing to make a name in the pros. Nick Saban didn’t do that well at Miami. Urban Meyer was a disaster for the Jaguars. So, the NFL calling you doesn’t always mean it’s a good opportunity. You’d be leaving a place where you get to call all the shots for a different structure altogether.

On his part, Kiffin has always maintained his loyalty to Ole Miss. He tends to be an in-demand coach almost every season. Auburn offered Kiffin Hugh Freeze’s position, but that interference caused Ole Miss to slip in the 2022 season. His contract has since been extended, and he has brought the Rebels up to the national stage with his track record. Kiffin clearly has a fire in him to accomplish a really great record with Ole Miss.

Ole Miss wants him to stay at Oxford. Everyone else wants him out. But as the chants for Lane Kiffin grow among Florida fans, he seems to be passing on the opportunity.

Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin nearly locked for the near future

Lane Kiffin is the missing piece of the puzzle that fits the picture of Florida football at the moment. His successes with the Rebels and his connection to Florida make him the best option in the market for the Gators. But Lane Kiffin plans to hang on at Oxford for a little while longer. According to The Athletic, “[lines] of communication are good between Kiffin and the administration.” Kiffin is already eligible for an extension that got activated after the Oklahoma win. However, his current extension, which runs until 2028, positions him well for the future.

At the same time, many analysts and experts have doubted whether Kiffin himself is ready to leave Oxford, his home. Time and again, he’s credited the community and the city as markers of changes in his personal life. Lane Kiffin’s family has moved to be closer to him. He will have to uproot himself from all of this if he has to chase the NFL or other opportunities.

Moreover, the prevailing opinion is that Ole Miss is ready to offer him anything he wants to keep him committed to Oxford. Joel Klatt has it on “good authority” that the program is practically “…offering him a blank check.” There were also talks of Florida signing a 10-year, $15 million contract with Kiffin. It would make him the highest-paid college football coach, and it’s an opportunity too good to pass on financially. But as we have seen in football history, the grass being greener doesn’t always mean good things.

The stakes continue to get higher and higher for this storyline. Who knows when Lane Kiffin will actually set the record straight, while the community continues to debate his future?