Jimbo Fisher buyout: Why Texas A&M will be paying off dismissed coach’s contract through 2031

Texas A&M’s determination to hearth trainer Jimbo Fisher in his 6th season will come at an unparalleled price. The Aggies are at the hook for greater than $77 million to Fisher by myself for the buyout on his contract, a deal that was once set to run through Dec. 31, 2031. While it is a daunting price-tag — $77,562,500 to be precise — Texas A&M would possibly not need to pay Fisher in complete up entrance, lessening one of the most burden at the Aggie energy brass. 

Texas A&M will be contractually obligated to pay Fisher 25% of his buyout in a lump sum due inside of 60 days of his firing, which quantities to Fisher cashing in more or less $19.3 million by way of mid-January of 2024.

Sixty days after that time limit passes, Texas A&M will be required to begin paying Fisher the remainder quantity throughout annual bills through the tip of 2031, when his contract was once set to run out. That quantities to 8 annual bills of roughly $7.2 million to the previous Aggies trainer. As exposed by way of The Athletic:

“[The] university shall pay twenty five percent (25%) of such amount in a lump sum within (60) days of the effective date of termination of the Agreement, and the remaining balance shall be paid to Coach in equal annual payments beginning one hundred twenty (120) days after the effective date of the termination of this agreement and continuing through the original end date of this Agreement, December 31, 2031.”

• By January 11, 2024: $19.3 million
• By March 11, 2024: $7.2 million
• 2025-31: $7.2 million in line with 12 months

In different phrases, Texas A&M will dish out $26.6 million to Fisher by way of March 11, 2024. For context, that quantity nonetheless exceeds the former record-buyout for a college football trainer, which was once set when Auburn fired trainer Gus Malzahn after the 2020 season. The Tigers have been at the hook for $21.4 million with Malzahn’s buyout.

Fisher was once 45-25 on the helm in College Station, Texas, a pedestrian efficiency in comparison to the championship expectancies that surrounded his arrival from Florida State after the 2017 season. Fisher gained a countrywide championship in 2013 whilst at Florida State however may just no longer mirror the good fortune he loved with the Seminoles upon turning into the Aggies’ headman. Fisher did lead Texas A&M to a No. 4 score within the AP Top 25 amid the COVID-19 pandemic season of 2020, however the Aggies by no means performed for a championship of any sort all the way through his watch. 

Texas A&M has closing video games in opposition to Abilene Christian and at LSU to conclude the 2023 marketing campaign sooner than studying of its bowl vacation spot. Assistant Elijah Robinson will function Texas A&M’s meantime trainer because the seek will get underway for Fisher’s alternative.

Texas A&M training applicants: Mike Elko, Dan Lanning, Lane Kiffin amongst choices to switch Jimbo Fisher

Dennis Dodd