The smoke from the cigar Curt Cignetti lit on the Hard Rock Stadium turf has barely cleared, and already the NFL world is vibrating. While Indiana fans want to build a statue, the Las Vegas Raiders are looking to build a future—and they have the ultimate “Golden Ticket” to lure Cignetti away from Bloomington.
Here is the updated case for why Curt Cignetti should jump to the pros, with the Las Vegas Raiders emerging as the undisputed #1 destination.
The Pros: The “Perfect Storm” in Las Vegas
1. The Mendoza Reunion (The #1 Pick)
The Raiders officially secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft following a 3-14 season. Every major mock draft has them taking the man who just won Cignetti a title: Fernando Mendoza.
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The Pitch: Most college coaches fail in the NFL because they don’t have “their guy” at QB. Cignetti wouldn’t have to guess. He would walk into a facility where the franchise savior is a player whose DNA he has already shaped. Pairing the Heisman winner with the coach who built him is the most logical “cheat code” in NFL history.
2. The Tom Brady Factor
Minority owner Tom Brady is reportedly the “Chief Architect” of this coaching search. Brady is obsessed with high-IQ, disciplined football—the exact brand Cignetti brought to Indiana. For Cignetti, having the GOAT as your boss and a “mentor” for Mendoza provides a level of organizational support that most first-time NFL coaches never get.
3. Absolute Peak Value
Cignetti is 64 years old. He just completed a 16-0 season (including the playoffs) at a school that had never won 10 games in a century. He has reached the summit of college football. In the NFL, he can sign a five-year contract worth upwards of $80–$100 million. If he stays at IU and goes 8-5 next year without Mendoza, that life-changing NFL offer evaporates.
4. Escaping the “NIL Circus”
In his post-game presser, Cignetti praised his players but looked exhausted by the “logistics.” In the NFL, there is no “transfer portal” in the middle of the season. There are no boosters to call at 11 PM for NIL money. He can finally just be a football coach again.
The Cons: Why He Should Stay
1. The “College Guy” Identity
Cignetti has been vocal about his love for the college game, recently stating, “I’m not an NFL guy. I’m a college football guy.” Jumping to the pros at 64 requires a total lifestyle shift. In Bloomington, he is a god; in Vegas, he is one three-game losing streak away from being on the hot seat.
2. The “One-Year Wonder” Risk
While Mendoza is a phenom, the Raiders’ roster is barren. The offensive line is a sieve, and the defense (outside of Maxx Crosby) struggled all year. Cignetti has spent his career in “quick turnarounds,” but the NFL’s parity makes it much harder to “out-scheme” talent deficiencies like he did in the Big Ten.
3. Building a Midwest Dynasty
With the 12-team playoff, Indiana is now a permanent national player. Cignetti could stay and try to do what Nick Saban did at Alabama: turn a dormant program into a decades-long powerhouse. Leaving now makes him a legend; staying makes him an era.
The Verdict: The Raiders are the Only Call
While the Baltimore Ravens job is technically “better” because of Lamar Jackson, the Las Vegas Raiders job is the only one that makes sense for Cignetti.
The opportunity to walk into an NFL locker room with Fernando Mendoza at your side and Tom Brady in the front office is a once-in-a-lifetime alignment of stars. If Mark Davis offers him the keys to the kingdom, Cignetti has to take the flight to Vegas.
