Kevin Sumlin

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Lore & Background

In the ecosystem of Houston sports, Sumlin represents the collegiate pipeline that feeds talent into the NFL. During his time as head coach at Texas A&M, he named quarterback Johnny Manziel his starter in 2012. Manziel went on to win the Heisman Trophy and Sumlin took Texas A&M, in their first year in the Southeastern Conference, to an 11–2 record, including victories over then No. 1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and No. 11 Oklahoma in the AT&T Cotton Bowl. The Aggies finished the 2012 season ranked in the top five of both the Coaches Poll and the AP Poll for the first time since 1956. Texas A&M also led the SEC in total offense, total scoring offense, and total rushing yards, and led the nation in third down conversion percentage. Sumlin and the Aggies became the first SEC team in history to amass over 7,000 yards in total offense. He was the first head coach to win more than eight games in his first season as head coach. However, unlike Bill O'Brien or Gary Kubiak, Sumlin never transitioned to the Texans' front office or sideline. His legacy in the region is defined by his work developing quarterbacks and offensive systems within the SEC and Conference USA.

In Their Own Story

The lights of Kyle Field hummed with the energy of Aggieland as Sumlin paced the sideline, headset pressed tight against his ear. It was a different kind of gridiron than NRG Stadium, yet the passion for Texas football burned just as bright in the stands. He watched Johnny Manziel take a snap, eyes scanning the defense with the same intensity a Texans coach might show on Sunday night. Here, though, the stakes were conference championships and draft stock, not playoff berths. On November 30, 2013, Sumlin agreed to a new six-year contract as head coach at Texas A&M. The contract, valued at $30 million over six years, was guaranteed. If Texas A&M had fired him after the 2015 and 2016 seasons, the buyout amounts ($20 million and $15 million, respectively) would have had to be paid out within 60 days of termination. On November 26, 2017, Sumlin was fired after six seasons. He compiled a 51–26 record during his tenure. Despite never posting a losing record as the coach of A&M, he only won more than nine games once, and only had one winning record in SEC play. Sumlin received a $10.4 million buyout under the terms of his contract, and was replaced by Jimbo Fisher for the 2018 season.

Reader's Guide

Kevin Sumlin's career is rooted deeply in American college football rather than professional leagues. He served as Head Coach at Texas A&M University from 2012 to 2017, where he led the team to an 11–2 record in 2012. His offensive background includes stints at Oklahoma under Bob Stoops, serving the last two years as co-offensive coordinator, and earlier coaching stops at Washington State, Wyoming, Minnesota, and Purdue that built his reputation. In his final year with the Oklahoma Sooners, Sumlin's offense was one of the best in the country, averaging 44 points per game. Following his departure from A&M, Sumlin took over at the University of Arizona from 2018 to 2020. While this placed him geographically close to the Texans' home base, his role remained strictly within NCAA boundaries. Sumlin suffered perhaps the worst defeat of his coaching career when his University of Arizona team lost to their traditional in-state rival Arizona State on December 11, 2020, by a score of 70–7. The following day, Sumlin was fired. On January 6, 2022, Sumlin was named the head coach and general manager for the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League. Sumlin's Gamblers finished 3–7 in his lone season and did not qualify for the postseason. On February 14, 2023, Sumlin was hired as the University of Maryland's associate head coach, co-offensive coordinator, and tight ends coach. At the conclusion of the 2024 season, Sumlin was fired by Maryland for an off field incident regarding Sumlin facing DUI charges. For Houston Texans historians, Sumlin serves as a point of comparison for local coaching talent during that era. His presence highlights the depth of coaching knowledge in the state, even if he never donned the Navy Blue and Battle Red of the professional club.

Did You Know?

• Sumlin was a starting linebacker throughout his entire college career at Purdue University, finishing in the top 10 in total tackles with 375 (191 solo, 184 assisted).
• He was a teammate of Hall of Famer Rod Woodson at Purdue.
• While at Purdue, offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and Sumlin aided head coach Joe Tiller in implementing the then-uncommonly used spread offense, with Drew Brees as starting quarterback.
• In 2012, Sumlin named quarterback Johnny Manziel his starter at Texas A&M; Manziel went on to win the Heisman Trophy.
• Sumlin was the first head coach to win more than eight games in his first season as head coach at Texas A&M.