Jimbo Fisher last took on the role of head coach in 2023 when he was let go by Texas A&M.
Now, after a brief stint as an analyst, he seems to want to return to coaching, specifically back in Tallahassee with Florida State, where he had significant success. This comes at a time when the current head coach, Mike Norvell, is under pressure.
According to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, Fisher has expressed a strong desire to rejoin the Seminoles as Norvell’s status becomes increasingly uncertain.
Fisher enjoyed a notable career, spending eight seasons at Florida State, where he was instrumental in their most recent national championship win. His record there was quite impressive—83 wins to 23 losses overall, with a strong conference play record of 48-16.
The 60-year-old head coach, who guided the Seminoles to the national title in 2013, saw the program begin to decline shortly after, which led to his departure for Texas A&M. Fisher is eager for a chance to reclaim the position, as noted by Feldman.
Since Fisher left Florida State in 2017, it’s been a challenging stretch for the team. Excluding the last two seasons, the Seminoles have fluctuated between mediocrity and struggle, posting a 48-47 overall record. They managed just three six-win seasons under coaches Willie Taggart and Norvell, with their last winning conference record occurring in 2023, when they went unbeaten to secure the ACC Championship.
Currently, Florida State finds itself at 1-1 in 2026, facing another testing season following a disappointing 27-24 loss at home to 19th-ranked SMU. In that game, the Seminoles’ defense forced four turnovers but couldn’t secure the win. A nail-biting moment in the game saw SMU kicker Nick Reed score a 20-yard field goal with just 21 seconds remaining, sealing a comeback victory after a lengthy nine-play, 71-yard drive by the Mustangs’ quarterback.
With every passing game, the pressure on Norvell seems to grow, making the prospect of a renewed Fisher era at Doak S. Campbell Stadium seem more plausible.
Fisher spent six seasons at Texas A&M after leaving Florida State, where his performance was somewhat hit-or-miss despite early accomplishments. He concluded his time there with a record of 45-25 and achieved a high point by leading the Aggies to a 4th-place national ranking in 2020, their best since 1993.
Interestingly, in what turned out to be his final season, Fisher recorded a 6-4 record, which is just a win shy of what Norvell has achieved over the past two years combined.
