ESPN BOMBSHELL NEWS: Missouri Tigers Head Coach Eliah Drinkwitz Shocks College Football by Rejecting $7.5M Offers from Texas Tech and Florida
In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the college football world, Missouri Tigers head coach Eliah Drinkwitz has turned down lucrative $7.5 million annual offers from both Texas Tech and Florida, choosing instead to reaffirm his commitment to Missouri. The bold decision, first reported by ESPN, has ignited a firestorm of reactions across the sports landscape, with some hailing it as a rare display of loyalty and others questioning the long-term implications for his career.
Drinkwitz, who has helmed the Missouri program since 2020, has steadily rebuilt the Tigers into a competitive SEC force. Under his leadership, Missouri posted a strong 10-2 regular season in 2024, including key wins over ranked opponents and a fierce showing against top-tier rivals. As a result, his stock soared, making him one of the most sought-after coaching talents in the nation.
Sources close to the situation revealed that both Texas Tech and Florida aggressively pursued Drinkwitz, offering multi-year contracts worth up to $7.5 million annually—figures that would place him among the highest-paid coaches in college football. Yet despite the financial allure and promises of greater resources and national exposure, Drinkwitz opted to stay put.
“I came to Missouri to build something lasting,” Drinkwitz said in a statement released late Tuesday night. “This program, this team, this community—they’ve believed in me, and I believe in them. We’re not done yet.”
The announcement has sparked intense debate across sports talk shows and social media. Supporters have applauded Drinkwitz’s loyalty and long-term vision, praising his refusal to chase a bigger paycheck. Critics, however, argue that he may have passed up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to elevate his profile and compete at a higher level.
Former players and current Missouri athletes rallied behind their coach on social media, using hashtags like #DrinkStays and #TrueTiger to show their support. Athletic Director Desireé Reed-Francois lauded Drinkwitz’s decision, calling it “a powerful testament to his integrity and belief in what we’re building here at Mizzou.”
As rival programs scramble to regroup after missing out, Missouri now turns its focus to the 2025 season with renewed momentum and a galvanized fanbase. Drinkwitz’s decision may have stirred controversy, but one thing is clear: he has cemented his legacy as a coach who values vision and loyalty over vanity and fortune.