Is Kirby Smart nearing a crossroads in his coaching career? CFB analyst Rusty Mansell suggests Georgia’s head coach may soon decide between adapting to college football’s growing chaos or making a leap to the NFL.
Will Kirby Smart Stay at Georgia? Insider Rusty Mansell Weighs In On Coaching Burnout And The Chaos Ahead
CFB Analyst and Podcast Host Rusty Mansell recently shared his thoughts on Georgia Head Coach Smart, suggesting that the veteran coach could have a potential career upgrade on the horizon if he can get through the current stage of his career.
Smart has been coaching college football since 2007 and has been with Georgia since 2016. He is about to enter his 9th year with the Bulldogs.
Recently appearing on the SEC Football Podcast, CFB Analyst and host of “The Dawg Pound.” Rusty Mansell shared his thoughts on the Georgia head coach, claiming he’s a “good dude.”
“He’s a good dude, hell of a recruiter, intense, kids loved him, defensive backs love him at Georgia, that’s for sure,” Mansell claimed, with the Bulldogs having a defensive back drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft in Malaki Starks.
When questioned on how long he believes Smart will keep going with Georgia, Mansell explained that while he doesn’t know, he’s certain that the Georgia Head Coach isn’t going to go quietly.
“I just know this, he’s not gonna sit at the house and watch Netflix, he can’t do it, he needs that constant, right now, he loves coaching, it’s what he knows.” The analyst explained.
Mansell also went on to share one of the traits he most appreciates about the Georgia Head Coach: “He’s incredibly close with his family.”
“Very tight with his family, that’s the one thing I’ll say that people should know about Kirby, I think one of the best things about him, is when he goes home, he’s completely engaged with his wife, and his kids, the guy is present. I know coaches who sit in that room but are not there.”
Will Kirby Smart Stay at Georgia? Rusty Mansell Weighs In On The Chaos Ahead
When questioned on whether the Georgia Head Coach could move away from College Football, the Analyst explained that there are two decisions the Bulldogs’ Head Coach could make.
“It could, if things don’t change, there’s gonna be a lot of changes, I’ve talked to many coaches.”
“If things don’t change in the next two or three years, there are some guys who are coaching on Saturdays who are either going to be coaching on Sunday, or they’re going to be done with it,” Mansell boldly suggested.
“They can’t operate like this, there are no rules, it looks like there’s gonna be some things in place, but you cannot have a world where your team flips in free agency twice a year, that’s not the real world for anything.” The analyst explained that the current Free Agency rules will drive some coaches towards the NFL.
During the show, Mansell also offered up a potential solution to this problem, boldly suggesting the idea of a “10-day Free Agency window.”
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“And this may not be the popular thing among coaches, but for me, I would say you have a ten-day window, at the end of December, or the start of January, you don’t have to go take ten visits, these kids know where they want to go, you have a window there, and you make a decision.”
“Because most of these kids that go in have been tampered with, they know where they’re going. From what I know, most schools have player meetings in early December; they know who’s on the verge of leaving, so just give me ten days.” The analyst concluded.
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