A change in the rulebook of the National Football Foundation (NFF) has now made a coach eligible for the Hall of Fame. The same coach who won Pac-12 Coach of the Year twice in his more than three-decade coaching career will now appear on the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

According to On3, the NFF has decided to lower its win percentage requirement for entry from 60% to 59.5% in 2027. This makes former Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach, nicknamed ‘the Pirate,’ appear on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot for the first time in 2027.

The requirement clearly stated that to be deemed eligible, the coach needs to be active for at least 10 seasons, coaching in 100 games. Despite Leach meeting that requirement, he did not meet the .600 criteria, missing it by a minute fraction, sitting at .598 when he was declared ineligible in May, 2025.

"This adjustment reflects thoughtful dialogue with leaders across the sport and allows us to better recognize coaches whose contributions to the game extend beyond a narrow statistical threshold," NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell said.

Leach held head coaching roles in several programs after serving decades as a positional coach. He worked with Texas Tech, Washington, and Mississippi, winning 158 of 265 games.

Perhaps the most important thing that Coach Mike is known for is the “Air Raid” offense. This focuses on a pass-heavy football strategy designed to stretch the field.

Leach's ability to work with underdog programs and turn them into winners is what sets him apart from the rest.

In his final season at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs recorded nine wins, a milestone reached only 10 times in program history. Over 21 years as a head coach, Leach earned 19 bowl berths and became Texas Tech's winningest coach.

Although he passed away on December 12, 2022, college football coaches who once crossed paths with him are celebrating his inclusion.

Coaches Praise Mike Leach For His Remarkable Work

Leach's legacy extends far beyond his own teams. Some of today's most successful coaches, including Lincoln Riley, developed as quarterbacks while learning under him.

“That’s something that’s very important to me," said the USC Trojans head coach, Lincoln Riley. "He changed the game and changed a lot of people’s lives, mine included in the process of it. I totally agree that the Hall of Fame is simply not complete without Mike Leach being in that."

Among the other quarterbacks coached by Leach was Josh Heupel, whom he recruited to Oklahoma while serving as the Sooners' offensive coordinator in 1999. With Leach directing the offense, Oklahoma shattered six Big 12 records and established 17 new program marks.

"He was an innovator of the game and obviously a big-time character. Every time you went into his office, it was an experience, like listening to the Howard Stern show," said Heupel.

Leach's unique presence often drew attention, while his coaching ability consistently delivered results on the field. His quarterbacks were responsible for 10 of the 50 most productive passing yardage seasons in FBS history.

Inductees for the 2027 Hall of Fame class will be announced in January.

Share your thoughts on Leach's appearance on the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

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Written by

Sourav Ganguly

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar