Could Gary Patterson Return To Longhorns?

Gary Patterson could be headed back to Austin for their final year in the Big 12.

Gary Patterson took a step down from his position with Texas following the 2022 season to spend time with his family. Now, the vacation period could be over.

According to 247Sports, Patterson is "mulling over" returning to the Longhorns support staff for the upcoming season. The longtime TCU coach served as a special assistant to Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian and was influential in helping with the defensive improvements after a woeful 2021 campaign. 

Patterson spent 22 seasons with the Horned Frogs, helping them navigate from the WAC to the Mountain West to the Power Five level. The all-time winningest coach went 181-79 before mutually agreeing to part ways midway through the 2021 season.

Patterson never closed the door on potentially returning to Texas, but stated following an 8-5 finish, he hoped to spend time away from the football field. Patterson was considered a potential head coaching candidate at several Group of Five schools, but never ended up taking an interview during the offseason. 

Last season, Patterson helped the Longhorns improve to the No. 2 ranked defense in the Big 12 in total yards (368.4 yards per game) and scoring (21.6 points per game). Under his help, players like linebacker Jaylan Ford, defensive back Jahdae Barron and defensive linemen T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy took strides as focal points for the program's future. 

Ford, the Big 12 preseason Defensive Player of the Year, earned third-team All-American status after registering a career-high 119 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and two sacks. Ford also became the first linebacker since Derrick Johnson in 2003 to record four interceptions in a single season. 

The Longhorns return all their defensive staff, including coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, inside linebackers coach Jeff Choate, secondary coach Terry Joseph, and defensive line coach Bo Davis. While Texas lost vital assets such as linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, defensive lineman Moro Ojomo and nickel defender Anthony Cook, the transfer portal provided depth and a veteran presence in multiple locations, including defensive back Jalen Catalon (Arkansas) and defensive lineman Trill Carter (Minnesota).

The Longhorns, the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 title before leaving for the SEC, kick off the season against Rice at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Sept. 2. 

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