Matt Rhule didn’t cover himself in glory with the Carolina Panthers, which is why he has returned to college football. Still, the coach learned a few things during his NFL tenure.

Matt Rhule is one of those coaches who succeeded in college but failed in the NFL. Rhule therefore did what many before him have done who fared similarly: he returned to college sports. The 48-year-old now coaches the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

He reportedly signed an eight-year contract there last November for 74 million dollars. The hope: Rhule is to create the first winning season since 2016 (9-4).

Yet he was able to do little to advertise himself during his NFL stint. He posted an 11-27 record overall in just over two seasons, and was fired after winning just one of his first five games last season.

Rhule never got a handle on the stumbling offense in particular, wearing out five quarterbacks: Teddy Bridgewater, Cam Newton, Sam Darnold, P.J. Walker and, most recently, Baker Mayfield.

Matt Rhule: NFL time not a waste of time

However, Rhule wouldn’t call his time with the Panthers a waste of time. For one thing, he’s learned to shift his focus. For another, he’ll respond differently to criticism at his new station.

“The fire in Carolina was a cleansing fire, melting away all the impurities, all the arrogance and all the worries about unimportant things,” Rhule said. “I have learnt to care about what is important. I have a focus and a desire in me,” the head coach continued.

He also hinted that it hasn’t always been easy with the Panthers in terms of environment: “I’ve had to see what my kids went through in Carolina, and we’re not going to put them through that here.”

Prior to his time in the NFL, Rhule served as the head coach of the Baylor Bears in college. Between 2017 and 2019, he led the team to a 19-20 record in the regular season and one win and one loss in bowl games each. He was also head coach of the Temple Owls from 2013 to 2016.