Auburn was able to secure DJ Durkin for the future on Monday, as the defensive coordinator signed a contract extension. Seemingly coming out of the blue, there was reportedly a reason as to why Durkin was given a new deal.

Per Rivals’ Brian Stultz, Ohio State attempted to hire Durkin away from Auburn. The Buckeyes just lost Jim Knowles following the national championship to Penn State and still have an opening. Based on this report, Durkin was a top priority but Hugh Freeze was able to keep the move from happening.

“Reason for DJ Durkin’s raise and extension? Per sources, it was because Ohio State came in with an offer trying to pry him away from Auburn. Hugh Freeze wasn’t going to let that happen,” Stultz said via X.

Coaching in the Big Ten would be nothing new for Durkin. He spent one season on the other side of the Michigan/Ohio State rivalry, being the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator in 2015 — the first year Jim Harbaugh was in charge of the program. Durkin was quickly hired away though, earning the head coach job at Maryland.

High expectations are there in Columbus, especially after a national championship. Durkin would have been inheriting a roster with a good amount of inexperience, considering the talent that just left the program. A few key players, such as Caleb Downs, return for the 2025 season but a lot of Ohio State names will be called at the 2025 NFL Draft.

Instead, Durkin has opted to stay with Auburn moving forward. It will be his second year with the program and after a solid first season, the hope is for even better results.

Durkin reportedly inked a new contract extension that was obtained via an open records request by the Montgomery Advertiser.

The publication reports that DJ Durkin’s initial deal has been extended by a year, taking him through the 2027 season. He will be paid a base salary of up to $2.5 million for the 2025 season.

That figure will make him the second-highest-paid assistant coach in college football, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger, behind only new Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

DJ Durkin joined the Auburn program prior to the 2024 season, fresh off a two-year stint as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M. He has had numerous stops around the SEC.

On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this report