Steve Sarkisian gives new contracts to Chris Jackson, Brandon Harris
JA
1 day ago7 min read
In the high-stakes chess game of college football, where roster management and staff continuity are as critical as any play-call on Saturday, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has just made two decisive moves that signal both stability and strategic intent for the program's future. Following the cathartic Citrus Bowl victory over Michigan to close the 2025 season, Sarkisian has secured wide receivers coach Chris Jackson on a new two-year deal and extended general manager Brandon Harris, as first reported by Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.This news arrives on the heels of Sarkisian's more dramatic December staff shake-up, which saw the departures of running backs coach Chad Scott, defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, and passing game coordinator Duane Akina. While those moves grabbed headlines for their boldness, the retention of Jackson and Harris speaks to a more nuanced, analytical approach to building a perennial contenderâone that values institutional knowledge and developmental track records amidst the sport's chaotic landscape.For Jackson, the new contract represents a significant vote of confidence after a season where his unit faced palpable scrutiny. The departure of junior wideout DeAndre Moore Jr., who failed to ascend to the alpha role many projected, coupled with a frustrating pattern of drops across the receiver room, had cast a shadow over Jackson's future in Austin. His original deal was set to expire, placing him in a precarious position.Yet, Sarkisian, a coach whose offensive philosophy is predicated on precision in the passing game, looked beyond the immediate statistical dip to the broader canvas. Jackson's proven ability to prepare receivers for the professional ranksâa tangible metric in today's evaluationâand his strong, stabilizing relationships with the current roster ultimately carried the day.It's a decision reminiscent of how Nick Saban often valued process over a single season's outcome; Jackson inherited a room that had cycled through three coaches in three years when he arrived from the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023, and his steady hand in providing schematic and technical consistency is an intangible asset that analytics-minded staffs covet. The extension for Brandon Harris, however, might be the more impactful long-term play.Hired originally by Tom Herman in 2019, Harris has evolved from a support staffer into perhaps the program's most indispensable off-field architect. As the general manager, he operates at the critical nexus of modern college football's most volatile elements: the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) revenue-sharing budget, the relentless churn of the NCAA transfer portal, and the high-stakes world of prospect recruitment and retention.
#Steve Sarkisian
#Texas Longhorns
#coaching contracts
#Chris Jackson
#Brandon Harris
#staff changes
#college football
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In an era where roster construction is a year-round endeavor akin to managing an NFL franchise's salary cap, Harris's role is paramount. He is Sarkisian's chief logistical officer, tasked with allocating finite resources to maximize talent acquisition and minimize attritionâa role that has grown exponentially in importance since the Supreme Court's Alston decision opened the floodgates for athlete compensation.
His extension is not just unsurprising; it is a non-negotiable prerequisite for any program with national championship aspirations. To understand the full context, one must view these moves through the lens of the sport's accelerating evolution.
The December firings represented Sarkisian's ruthless commitment to on-field performance, a willingness to refresh schematic approaches that may have grown stale. The January extensions, conversely, reflect a deep understanding that sustainable success is built on a foundation of trusted personnel who can navigate the sport's new frontier.
It's a dual-track strategy: aggressively upgrade where necessary, while fiercely protecting your core competencies. For Texas, a program finally back in the national elite after years of wandering in the wilderness, maintaining this balance is everything.
The Longhorns are no longer just recruiting against Oklahoma and Alabama; they are competing in a complex ecosystem where a general manager's ability to structure an NIL package can be as decisive as a five-star recruit's 40-yard dash time. Harris's continued presence ensures Texas remains a savvy operator in that market.
Meanwhile, Jackson's retention sends a message to current and future receivers that development is a marathon, not a sprint, and that consistency in coaching matters. The consequences of these moves will unfold over the coming seasons.
A stabilized, motivated wide receiver corps could unlock the next level for Texas's already-potent offense, providing the quarterbackâwhether it's a returning veteran or a new portal acquisitionâwith a reliable, well-drilled set of weapons. Harris's extended tenure will be measured in cold, hard results: Can Texas consistently win bidding wars for top portal talent? Can it retain its own budding stars before they entertain lucrative offers elsewhere? The answers will define the Sarkisian era as much as any win-loss record.
In the final analysis, while the flash of a bowl victory or a splashy coordinator hire captures the public's imagination, the quiet work of contract extensions for figures like Jackson and Harris is the gristle and bone of program-building. Sarkisian, by securing these key pieces, has demonstrated a holistic grasp of the modern coach's mandate. He is not just a tactician but a CEO, and in the competitive calculus of college football, retaining your best internal assets is often the smartest move you can make.
