Lane Kiffin’s name has been at the center of coaching rumors for weeks. The Ole Miss head coach has been linked to several high-profile college programs, including Florida and LSU, as speculation continues about potential openings in the upcoming offseason.
His success in Oxford, coupled with his reputation as one of college football’s most dynamic offensive minds, made him a natural candidate in the eyes of many insiders. Yet despite the noise, there has never been any solid confirmation that Kiffin was considering leaving Ole Miss.
The speculation gained new life recently, but it didn’t take long for Kiffin to silence it. After ESPN’s Marty Smith addressed the situation publicly, Kiffin responded with a short and subtle message that effectively put all the rumors to rest.
“Love you @MartySmithESPN like a brother,” Kiffin RESPONDED.
Smith had discussed the topic on-air, expressing his confusion over why Kiffin would even consider leaving Ole Miss at this stage of his career.
“For the life of me, I can’t understand why Lane would leave Ole Miss,” Smith said. “He has found himself in Oxford, Mississippi. He has found peace. He has found the best version of himself. And there’s genuinely no dollar figure that you can offer that is more valuable than the peace and the fulfillment that Lane has found personally in Oxford.”
Love you @MartySmithESPN like a brother. 💙 https://t.co/ub1s0tltIy
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) November 2, 2025
He pointed out that Kiffin already makes close to nine million dollars per year and has built one of the SEC’s most competitive programs. The difference between what he earns now and what a program like Florida might offer would be minimal compared to the stability and control he already enjoys at Ole Miss.
Kiffin’s few words were enough to signal that he agrees with Smith’s assessment and intends to stay put.
Lane Kiffin Was Linked to the Miami Dolphins
While Kiffin may have shut down the college rumors, his name has also surfaced in NFL circles. Colin Cowherd recently connected him to the Miami Dolphins, a franchise valued at around $7.5 billion.
Cowherd speculated that Kiffin could be a strong fit in Miami if the organization decided to make a coaching change. He highlighted Kiffin’s track record as an offensive innovator and his experience managing elite quarterbacks, suggesting he could bring a new level of creativity to the Dolphins’ offense.
“They got no alpha, they got no culture,” Cowherd said. “Mike McDaniel’s a great offensive coach? Ehh, come on. Here’s why you go hire Lane Kiffin. No. 1 offense in college football last several years.”
“You know what Miami’s gotta do next? Go hire Lane Kiffin!”@colincowherd thinks the Dolphins rebuild needs to start with hiring Kiffin away from Ole Miss pic.twitter.com/gjGR18UnQS
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) October 31, 2025
However, most analysts view the connection as unlikely. Kiffin has repeatedly emphasized that money and prestige are not his main motivators anymore, and his recent interaction with Marty Smith reinforces that idea.
For now, the Ole Miss coach appears settled, focused on building his program, and uninterested in chasing either college or NFL openings, even when those links involve one of the richest franchises in sports.
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