Well, Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers are now in full revamp mode. They have officially hired Pat Stewart as the General Manager for Nebraska football. They even ended the 2024 season by hiring Terry Bradden as their defensive line coach. While Huskers fans are getting familiar with the new names, a particular name comes up with some interesting storyline. That’s none other than their newly hired special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler. Now what’s so interesting about the hire? Going by the speculations, Rhule might have been in two minds before landing Ekeler.
Last month in February, Rhule officially announced Ekeler as their new special teams coordinator. The Nebraska native brings more than two decades of college coaching experience back to Lincoln. Well, the craze for Ekeler was too high. After all, he has served as the assistant coach for the Tennessee Volunteers. Plus, this was kind of a homecoming for Rhule’s new hire. Ekeler had previously coached linebackers for three seasons under Bo Pelini from 2008-2010. He had a successful stint in Knoxville when the Vols led the SEC in punt return average for the third time in his four seasons. So there was kind of peer pressure for Rhule to hire the former coach. Now this came off as too interesting for former Nebraska defensive end and analyst Adam Carriker.
Am I the only one who found it interesting that Matt Rhule was hesitant to hire Mike Ekeler…Because the media & former players told him to do so?!
I understand not wanting to deal with a potential “celebrity” coach & obviously Ekeler’s hired, but that’s interesting.#GreatHire
— Adam Carriker (@AdamCarriker94) March 13, 2025
On March 13, he tweeted, “Am I the only one who found it interesting that Matt Rhule was hesitant to hire Mike Ekeler…Because the media & former players told him to do so?! I understand not wanting to deal with a potential ‘celebrity’ coach & obviously Ekeler’s hired, but that’s interesting.” Well, Carriker did not just assume this, Rhule admitted he was on the fence about bringing Ekeler in. “’When I started hearing local media and former players say to hire him, my initial reaction was ‘don’t hire him.’ At the end of the day I don’t love celebrity coaches, I want guys who just want to work.” But at last, Rhule had to offer a fatter cheque to land Ekeler. Back in Vols, he made $575,000 in his final season. However, in Nebraska, he will earn $625,000 per season.
However, the HC had to go against his own feelings for his team’s own good. Under Ekeler the Vols didn’t allow a blocked kick this past season. Cut to the Huskers, Rhule’s boys did allow including four punts and seven kicks. Tennessee ranked ninth in the country, averaging 15.7 yards per return in 2024. On the flip side, Nebraska was one of the worst punt return teams in the nation, ranking 110th with an average of 4.87 yards. So, Rhule had to hire the “celebrity” coach for the sake of keeping his program floating. While this has been a recommendable move by the HC, his other decision left him mocked.
Former HC’s brutal take on Matt Rhule’s decision to protect players
This spring Rhule had decided to lock the gates. Yes, every year, the Huskers fans look forward to the ritual when their favorite Memorial Stadium opens the gates. As Adam Krueger with KMTV News in Lincoln reported instead of a full spring game Coach Rhule has something special for the fans. Going by the reports, there will be a ‘fall sports preview’ on Saturday, April 26. But what’s the reason behind this big decision?
Nebraska’s spring game was held on April 27, 2024, in front of 60,452 at Memorial Stadium. But Rhule does not want to take any risk this time as spring practice comes with a lot of poaching attempts from other programs. The Nebraska HC said it from his own experience. “I hate to say this, but last year we were one of the more televised spring games and I dealt with a lot of people offering our players a lot of opportunities after that. To go out and bring in a bunch of new players and then showcase them for all the other schools to watch, that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.”
Now this did not sit well with former college football coach Steve Spurrier, who doesn’t think it’s an event worth bothering with. On Pat Dooley’s podcast, he stated, “They’re gonna have passing and kicking contests. I don’t think I’m gonna go to that.” Missing the spring game might sting, but Matt Rhule is easing the sting by bringing in Mike Ekeler.
The post Nebraska Hall of Famer Calls Out Matt Rhule’s Hesitation to Hire Mike Ekeler Over Media Influence appeared first on EssentiallySports.