Oklahoma State is yet another school that has been going through chaos after firing Mike Gundy just three games into the 2025 season. The decision came after a 1-2 start, which included a humiliating blowout loss to Oregon. But the real reason was a home defeat to their in-state rival, Tulsa. This was the first time they lost to the Golden Hurricane since 1951. 

The Cowboys parted ways with their 21-year head coach and winningest coach in program history, owing him a $15 million buyout in the process. Almost immediately, one name shot to the top of every shortlist: Zac Robinson, the 29-year-old Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator who just happens to be one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Oklahoma State history. 

Beat writer Josh Kendall took an opportunity and directly asked Robinson if he’d been contacted by Oklahoma State about the head coaching vacancy. And the answer, well, it was dripping with a lot of subtext, to say the very least. “I’ll kind of leave that and just focus on today and progressing this week,” Robinson said. The key in this answer is that there’s no outright denial, and this sent the reporters scrambling to read between the lines.

If Robinson had zero interest or was not contacted, he’d have said so. But dodging the question and pivoting is exactly what you can expect from someone who has developed an interest in the role but wants to keep it under the covers right now.

Robinson played under Gundy from 2005 to 2009, throwing for 8,317 yards and 66 touchdowns while ranking fourth all-time in school history in passing yards. He led the Cowboys to multiple bowl games and set a school record with 3,671 total offensive yards in 2007, a season in which only Tim Tebow matched his feat of rushing for 800 yards and passing for 2,800.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has been asked time and again about Zac Robinson’s candidacy, but he has been tight-lipped throughout. But everyone kind of knows what’s happening here. Oklahoma State has hired search firm TurnkeyZRG to lead the process, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Zac Robinson is “expected to be on the very short list” for the job.

Robinson has never held a college coaching position. He climbed the NFL ranks by working with Sean McVay in Los Angeles and then landed the Falcons OC gig. His Oklahoma State pedigree and offensive mind make him an obvious fit. The fact that he dodged the question rather than shutting it down tells you everything about where his head’s at.

Morris shows class amid coaching carousel buzz

Raheem Morris isn’t about to stand in the way of his offensive coordinator’s potential dream job, even if it could create a massive headache for the Atlanta Falcons. When asked about Zac Robinson being linked to the Oklahoma State vacancy following Mike Gundy’s dismissal, the Falcons head coach offered nothing but support and encouragement. 

“I don’t know if he’s been contacted by anybody from Oklahoma State, but we’ve heard the rumors, and that’s great for him,” Morris said during his Monday press conference. “You want people to want our people. That’s something that is awesome for him and his family. We embrace those distractions.” This is the response you expect from a head coach who genuinely wants his team to grow and prosper. Mossis has worked alongside Zac Robinson for five years, first on Sean McVay’s staff and then brought him to Atlanta as his OC in 2024.

Moreover, Morris knows the business. He knows firsthand what it’s like to be a hot name and be on the shortest of the lists during a coaching upheaval. He also talked about how that felt when it happened to him. “I was fortunate enough to be a part of those rumors when I was an assistant for those years. Those are all really good moments for us in this profession,” Morris explained, acknowledging the professional validation that comes with being pursued for bigger opportunities.