Steve Sarkisian Defends Quinn Ewers, Reflects on His Impact at Texas
When Steve Sarkisian took over the Texas Longhorns football program, his first season in 2021 ended with a disappointing 5-7 record. Things looked bleak for a once-proud program. But that all began to change with the arrival of Quinn Ewers.
Over the next three seasons, Ewers became a central figure in Texas’ resurgence. Under Sarkisian’s leadership and Ewers’ arm, the Longhorns reached back-to-back conference championship games—a first for any quarterback in program history—and made consecutive College Football Playoff Semifinal appearances.
During his Texas career, Ewers threw for 9,128 yards and 68 touchdowns and completed 65% of his passes while averaging over 253 yards per game. He finished with a 27-9 record as a starter and lost just one true road game, going 11-1 away from home.
These achievements place him among the elite quarterbacks in Texas football history. Statistically, he trails only Colt McCoy and Sam Ehlinger in total passing yards and touchdowns, and he ranks just behind McCoy, Vince Young, and Bobby Layne in career wins.
Despite this success, Ewers faced regular criticism—from how he played to how he navigated his collegiate career and, ultimately, his decision to go pro. Sarkisian addressed this during an interview with Josh Pate of 247Sports, making it clear that he believes Ewers deserves far more praise than criticism.
“People always have something to say about athletes who transfer for money or opportunities,” Sarkisian said. “But Quinn didn’t do that. He stayed. He left a legacy at Texas and chose to pursue his NFL dream. Now those same critics are questioning why he didn’t chase a payday at another school.”
Sarkisian expressed frustration at the double standards athletes face. If they transfer, they’re seen as greedy; if they stay, they’re questioned for not cashing in.
“He’s done everything right,” Sarkisian added. “He gave everything to our program. To criticize him for not chasing money? Come on.”
After the 2024 season, Ewers faced two options: he could stay in college and likely command a significant NIL deal elsewhere, or he could declare for the NFL Draft and end his college journey with Texas. He chose the latter, sacrificing short-term earnings for the long-term goal of playing in the NFL.
And Sarkisian believes that choice speaks volumes about Ewers’ character and priorities.
“Quinn came to Texas when we were down,” Sarkisian said. “He helped build this thing. He fought through injuries, led us to a Big 12 Championship, two Playoff appearances, and an SEC title game in our first year in that conference.”
But for Sarkisian, Ewers’ impact goes beyond numbers and wins.
“His influence brought other top players to Texas,” Sarkisian emphasized. “If Quinn doesn’t come here, maybe the next five recruits don’t either. And if they don’t, maybe we don’t get the next ten after that. That’s the kind of ripple effect he had.”
Now, Ewers is in the NFL, having landed with the Miami Dolphins, a team that may be an ideal fit for his development and playing style. With his college chapter closed, Ewers has a chance to build on his legacy at the professional level—one that began when he chose to help resurrect a Texas program in need of a savior.
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