Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz got his career started on the Plains working with then-offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn as a quality control assistant for the Auburn Tigers. Drinkwitz and Malzahn have maintained a close relationship since their championship season together. Maybe, then, Drinkwitz knows something about Malzahn's future moves after Gus retired this past February, following a year with the Florida State Seminoles as lead play-caller under Mike Norvell, and subsequently joined the CFP committee.
Drinkwitz commented on Malzahn at 2026 SEC Football Media Days, saying, "He's gonna watch all these teams and want one more shot at it." Malzahn was appointed to the CFP committee for a three-year stint in March.
Will Malzahn finish those three years? Can Gus make a return to college football?
Arkansas continues to be an alluring job to Gus Malzahn, but it's unlikely
Ryan Silverfield took over the Arkansas Razorbacks' job after Sam Pittman's firing, and to say the buzz is muted in Fayetteville about it would be an understatement. Could Malzahn be a potential option to replace Silverfield if the Hogs fail to improve over the next year or two?
Probably not. While Malzahn has strong ties to the state after coaching at three different high schools in Arkansas, play-calling for the Razorbacks for a year, and serving as the Arkansas State Red Wolves' head coach before arriving at AU, he probably doesn't want to join a situation that may be less than ideal indefinitely because of the financial investment in John Calipari's basketball program.
Could Eli Drinkwitz hire Gus Malzahn to eventually replace Chip Lindsey?
Maybe Drink could hire Gus directly. Chip Lindsey was brought on as Mizzou's lead play-caller for the 2026 season, but the Madison, Alabama, native hasn't stayed at a collegiate coaching job for longer than three years. The one job Lindsey did stay at was the Troy Trojans' head coaching job. Odds are, Lindsey is trying to coach his way back into head coaching consideration, and the Tigers are his springboard.
The student becoming the teacher is an interesting concept, though Malzahn would likely be given full autonomy over the offense. Still, Malzahn making his way to Missouri almost certainly isn't what Drink was hinting at. A head coaching job probably is, but that doesn't even feel all that likely. If Gus wanted to be a head coach, he probably could've gotten one of the many jobs that became available in the last hiring cycle.
Could Gus Malzahn return to Auburn in some capacity?
Truthfully, the likeliest scenario for Gus, based on his social media activity, his decision to move back to East Central Alabama after retiring, and his proximity to Alex Golesh's program, is a return to Auburn in some form.
If the university can find a similar role for Malzahn that Bruce Pearl had, all parties would likely be happy. Given how bad things have been for the football program since he left, having Malzahn back in any capacity could be a feel-good move that'd help bring the feeling back.
Golesh reveres the Tigers' history. Malzahn is an indelible part of Auburn football's lore. Who says no?
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