Doug Nussmeier hasn’t but thought-about a future situation through which he’s teaching Tremendous Bowl 2025 MVP Jalen Hurts between possessions whereas concurrently stealing glances on the subject to be sure that Hurts’ counterpart is doing all the things that he was taught.
However the want for Nussmeier — Eagles quarterbacks coach and the proud father of a possible 2026 first-round draft decide — to discover a balancing act for video games pitting his son in opposition to the Eagles protection is shortly approaching.
LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier stayed in class for his redshirt senior season somewhat than enter the 2025 NFL Draft, which makes him an choice for any group that places off discovering its Quarterback of the Future for one 12 months.
The doubtless Matthew Stafford-seeking Giants and Tyrod Taylor-led Jets each may match that invoice.
“He wasn’t at all times the largest. He wasn’t at all times the quickest. He wasn’t at all times one of the best. However he at all times has his mindset there,” Doug Nussmeier informed The Submit. “I didn’t stand up within the morning saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to work on this, this and this in the present day.’ He would come to me and say, ‘Dad, do you have got a while in the present day? Can we go throw?’
“The largest factor as a dad is his love of the sport and his perseverance. It hasn’t at all times been the simplest path. He’s put his toes within the floor and needed to struggle. That’s an excellent trait, not solely in soccer however in life.”
Garrett spent three seasons as LSU’s backup — two after he was jumped on the depth chart by Jayden Daniels — however by no means regarded for a shortcut within the NIL- and transfer-crazed NCAA.
Whereas Daniels was setting the NFL ablaze because the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the 12 months, Nussmeier lastly obtained his probability and, throughout a 9-4 season, accounted for extra passing yards, completions, touchdowns and whole offense than any first-year starter in LSU historical past.
Most NFL coaches declare to be game-planning — not watching faculty soccer — on Saturdays.
Doug Nussmeier turned on the tv.
It was via a fan’s (or father’s) eye, not that of a coach or scout.
“I don’t watch their tape. That’s not my place. He has good coaches to try this,” Nussmeier mentioned, singling out LSU quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan. “As a result of I do know the participant, I would say one thing like, ‘Right here’s a pair belongings you may wish to discuss to Joe about.’ It’s a few of the apparent issues like, ‘You recognize higher than to take a sack on that play.’ Or, ‘You recognize you may’t throw the ball late down the center.’ ”
ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller mentioned Nussmeier would have been in regards to the No. 4 or No. 5 quarterback as an “incomplete prospect” within the 2025 class.
The ceiling ought to be greater with one other 12 months of improvement.
“Gunslinger mentality with good contact, placement and velocity,” Miller informed The Submit. “Inconsistent studying the sphere and makes some late choices which can be backbreakers. I feel his lack of dimension and inexperience would have actually value him when scouts dug in all the way in which on his tape.”
Whereas Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is overtly toying with inflicting a stink to forestall his son Shedeur from being drafted by sure groups in 2025, Doug desires Garrett to be in command of his soccer journey.
After the Eagles gained the Tremendous Bowl final Sunday, Garrett known as his father “the definition of a winner” and mentioned on social media “nobody deserves this greater than you.”
“I wasn’t making that call for him,” Nussmeier, the 1993 FCS Participant of the 12 months, mentioned of Garrett staying in class in 2025. “All I’m going to attempt to do is provide the data, attempt to level out a few of the key issues I feel it is best to take into account, and it is best to sit down in your personal means and resolve what you assume is finest for you. I’m very happy with the way in which he dealt with the method. He feels good about that call. I’ll at all times be a useful resource for him.”
Giants receiver Malik Nabers and Garrett have a relationship relationship to the youth soccer camp circuit, the place they had been on the identical group in opposition to Sanders within the championship sport.
The coach in Nussmeier has an thought what his friends will like about his son: The way in which he handles adversity.
“That’s a giant a part of being profitable on the place,” he mentioned. “The upper you go, the more durable it’s. Day-after-day shouldn’t be going to be nice. You need to keep impartial. You need to understand that if you assume you’re on high, you’ll get introduced down actually fast. Once you assume you’re on the underside, put your nostril down and struggle your means and also you’ll be simply nice.”