In the end, opportunity knocked for Deland McCullough.
The star Notre Dame running backs coach,, a former Super Bowl-winning assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs and a 2024 FootballScoop Running Backs Coach of the Year finalist, answered the call.
Multiple sources confirm to FootballScoop that McCullough has informed Notre Dame that he is leaving the Fighting Irish program and accepting a job in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders. Matt Freeman of Irish Sports Daily first reported the move.
McCullough, a former high school principal with one of the more remarkable journeys in coaching, could not pass up the opportunity to learn under legendary coach Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly.
The Raiders hired Carroll last month to take over their Vegas franchise, and Kelly was hired as offensive coordinator almost immediately after he helped lead Ohio State past McCullough and Notre Dame last month for the College Football Playoff Championship.
McCullough has spoken openly in the past about his desire to become a head coach, and sources with direct knowledge told FootballScoop Wednesday night that such a goal factored heavily in McCullough's decision to return to the NFL.
Additionally, FootballScoop has learned that McCullough received a substantial raise to make the leap to the NFL; worth noting, Nevada does not have a state income tax.
McCullough has been a fixture on Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame staff since Freeman hired McCullough away from Indiana after the 2021 season.
He's developed multiple 1,000-yard rushers for the Irish and helped Audric Estime become a 2024 NFL Draft pick of the Denver Broncos.
In the 2024 college season, McCullough tutored Notre Dame sophomore sensation Jeremiyah Love, who erupted onto the forefront of college football and already has emerged as Heisman Trophy contender next season.
Love finished with more than 1,000 rushing yards, had a 98-yard scoring run in the opening round of the CFP that stood as the longest in Playoff history and was recruited to Notre Dame by McCullough out of St. Louis.
Jadarian Price also is another McCullough recruit for the Irish who has shown NFL potential and top-end speed.
McCullough informed his Irish running backs late Wednesday evening of his impending departure and word trickled out following his message to players.
McCullough's exit is another high-profile loss for Freeman. In the days immediately following the CFP title bout, Al Golden returned to the NFL to become defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals. Golden had been a Broyles Award finalist in 2024 and regarded as one of the top-tier defensive coordinators in college football.
Then almost two weeks ago, Chad Bowden exited Notre Dame and his role as general manager to take over as G.M. of USC football. Bowden, who received a multi-year deal and emerged as the highest-paid G.M. in college football, per sources, then also snagged Irish director of player personnel Zaire Turner for a top executive position at USC. Bowden relished the opportunity to help lift USC back to national prominence, sources familiar with the process told FootballScoop.
Last week, top young defensive assistant Mike Moon, who had been with the Irish program four years, exited for a spot on Golden's Bengals staff while Michael Bearden, Notre Dame's assistant wideouts coach, departed to join the Cleveland Browns.
While the Irish replaced Golden with Chris Ash, they now must replace McCullough and are awaiting a final answer from top G.M. target James Blanchard, whom Texas Tech is seeking to keep in that role atop its program.