Purdue football fires offensive coordinator Graham Harrell after wretched start to season

Posted by author September 29, 2024 Football

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INDIANAPOLIS – Purdue football coach Ryan Walters determined the Boilermakers’ beleaguered offense required a shake-up.

Walters announced Sunday he fired offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Graham Harrell. The decision came one day after a 28-10 homecoming loss to Nebraska.

“Decisions like this are never easy,” Walters said in a news release. “After evaluating our start to the season, I felt that it was best for our team to make a change now. We are appreciative of Graham’s contributions to our program and wish him the best going forward.”

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No announcement was made as to Purdue’s offensive staff plans moving forward. Walters is expected to address the situation during Monday afternoon’s previously scheduled news conference.

Purdue, which has lost three straight since opening the season with a win over Indiana State, plays at Wisconsin on Saturday.

Harrell was in the second year of a three-year contract. He is owed the entirety of his $950,000 salary for this season as well as all $1,000,000 for his third contract year.

Walters said after Saturday’s loss he needed to study the film before making any comments on the repeated problems with the offense. After watching that film — featuring 3.3 sack-adjusted yards per carry, 12 first downs (compared to 25 for the Cornhuskers) and the third pick-six thrown in as many games — he made his statement via a personnel change.

Purdue statistically ranks among the worst offenses in the country and among power conference teams. That has been especially true when counting only games against FBS opponents. In those three games, the Boilermakers have averaged merely 12.7 games, achieved an average of 10.3 first downs and made only seven trips into the red zone.

Purdue did experience some success running the ball in 2023 with Devin Mockobee and current New York Giants back Tyrone Tracy Jr. Card opened this season with a 24 of 25 performance against FCS opponent Indiana State. The results over the past three games, however, reflected a nearly across-the-board regression.

Harrell, 39, starred as Texas Tech’s quarterback from 2004-08. He previously served as offensive coordinator at North Texas, USC and West Virginia.

(This story was updated to add new information.)