ANNOUNCEMENT: “Fifteen Million? Don’t Lose It!” – Kirby Smart’s Audacious Rejection of Alabama and Florida’s Mega Offers Sends Shockwaves Through College Football
In an offseason already brimming with drama, no one expected the bombshell that dropped Friday morning. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart—widely considered the architect of one of the most dominant college football dynasties of the 21st century—publicly turned down two staggering head coaching offers from SEC rivals Alabama and Florida, each rumored to be worth $15 million per year.
“I told them both the same thing,” Smart said during an impromptu press conference in Athens, surrounded by stunned Bulldogs boosters and reporters. “‘Fifteen million? Don’t lose it—I’m staying right here.’”
It wasn’t just the number that turned heads—it was the fact that Smart said “no” to not one, but two of the most historically prestigious programs in the country. Alabama, still reeling from the post-Nick Saban identity crisis and having cycled through three head coaches in five seasons, made Smart their top target this offseason. Florida, fresh off firing Billy Napier after another underwhelming campaign, sought to revitalize the Swamp with the SEC’s most feared strategist.
The Tide reportedly offered Smart a blank-check deal: eight years, $120 million, full control of football operations, and a stake in a new football-only athletic compound in Tuscaloosa. Florida’s pitch? A nine-year, $135 million package with incentives that would have made Smart the highest-paid college football coach in history, plus an NIL-backed recruiting war chest.
Instead, the 49-year-old head coach stayed loyal to Georgia, where he’s already won three national titles (2021, 2022, and 2024), built a recruiting juggernaut, and cultivated a legacy that now rivals that of Saban himself.
“It’s not about the money,” Smart said. “It’s about the mission. We built something at Georgia that’s bigger than a paycheck. We’re not done yet.”
Sources close to Smart say the offers were tempting—but ultimately, he couldn’t walk away from a program that had become his life’s work. His family, deeply rooted in the Athens community, reportedly played a significant role in his decision. So did Georgia’s players, several of whom took to social media to rally behind their coach in the 48 hours leading up to the announcement.
“Coach Smart isn’t going anywhere,” posted star quarterback Austin Darnell. “We’re chasing rings, not dollar signs.”
College football insiders are already calling Smart’s decision a seismic moment in the sport’s power structure. With Saban retired, Smart had the opportunity to claim the Alabama throne—the very program where he once served as defensive coordinator and earned his coaching pedigree. But instead, he doubled down on Georgia, signaling a bold new era where loyalty may, at least in Athens, still hold value over cash.
Alabama and Florida, meanwhile, are left scrambling. Both are expected to pivot to their Plan Bs: Alabama eyeing Washington’s Kalen DeBoer and Florida reportedly considering Deion Sanders, who has re-energized Colorado’s program.
For Kirby Smart, however, the decision is final—and historic.
“Programs win with culture,” he said, pounding his fist on the podium. “Georgia isn’t just home. It’s the standard now.”
And just like that, $15 million wasn’t enough to buy the crown. Kirby already has it—and he’s not giving it up anytime soon.
