Jimbo Fisher Should Ignore the Allure of NFL and Stay at Florida State

From this point forward, Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher will be connected to other jobs, both at the college and pro level. Welcome to being a Florida State fan in 2015. And 2016. And 2017. And so on. 

Appearing on ProFootballTalk Live on NBC Sports Network on Tuesday, Fisher said he "recently" heard from an NFL team about any possible interest in being a head coach. 

Exactly which team reached out and when remains unknown. As PFT's Mike Florio notes, the Bills, Jets, Raiders, Broncos, 49ers, Falcons and Bears have all "recently" filled head coaching spots.

It's a moot point now. Those jobs are filled, and Fisher remains with Florida State. Though he threw out the "never say never" line, for the moment, Fisher doesn't seem interested in the pros. That's a good thing; he's an incredible fit for the college game. 

The X's and O's of football transcend every level of the sport, and Fisher is a brilliant offensive mind. He could coach anywhere—from Houston, Texas, to Hoover, Alabama—and be able to find mismatches, call plays and develop talent. 

What changes from college to the pros is the coaching style, and that's not for everyone. Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh have dabbled in the NFL and, for their own various reasons, eventually found their way back to the college game. 

Fisher, on the other hand, has spent well over 20 years coaching exclusively in the college ranks. 

The dream of winning in the NFL can be alluring, but it's a different animal than college. The workload is different, managing egos and personalities in the locker room is different, the control/role within the organization is different. 

If Fisher knows that's not necessarily his bag, baby, then good for him. He explained that rationale to Florio: 

"

I love college kids. I love 18-to-22, 23-year-old kids.  I love the family life.  I love living in the towns I live in.  I love living in Tallahassee.  It’s a great place to raise a family, it’s a great place to grow.  You’re living in warm weather. I don’t have that ambition — not saying, again, I wouldn’t — but it’s not my driving force to have to be a pro football coach.

"

Could things change? Sure. Opportunities are all about timing and circumstances, both of which are fluid factors. 

Also, it helps to have an awesome agent. 

Overall, though, Fisher appears happy with his present situation. That's not just about FSU, either. As a college head coach, he can fill up an entire recruiting class of blue-chip prospects who will win 10 or more games every season. 

Yes, there's parity in college football, but not nearly as much as there is in the pros. In other words, Fisher has a machine running on all cylinders in Tallahassee—and is being paid well to run said machine—and it's showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. Fisher has a hand in every little thing that happens with that machine. The operating manual? He wrote the thing. 

What's not to love?

Still, this is what happens when you win as many games as Fisher has—he's averaged 11.6 wins per year since taking over the Seminoles program in 2010—and put 25 players into the NFL since 2011. You're going to get attention from the highest level of the game, that's just a fact of life. Though the thought of losing Fisher is enough to put a lump in the throats of FSU fans everywhere, it truly is the highest compliment possible. 

Just because Fisher would potentially entertain an offer doesn't mean he's leaving, either. One of the best things anyone can do professionally is listen to what someone else has to say. 

Florida State fans probably don't need to worry about head coach Jimbo Fisher leaving for another college job. If that were going to happen, it would have been Texas in 2014. The only thing that resulted there was a new contract extension with FSU and a raise. 

The NFL could be a different story, but if it is, it'll be told someday in the future. 

The only thing that could change that is if Fisher gets burned out in Tallahassee, or if some unforeseen instance arises and Fisher is let go or resigns. Otherwise, this is a program with a lot going for it. Fisher is competing for national championships regularly, has a wealth of recruits from which to choose and an athletic department willing to do what it takes to win. 

That's a good situation anywhere. If Fisher isn't inherently driven by the challenge of the NFL like he says, it's a tough situation to leave, too. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.