Auburn extends DC DJ Durkin with $2.5M deal

(Photo courtesy of @247sports)

By Chris Marler

Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin received an extension and pay raise Saturday from the University. Auburn nearly doubled his salary, granting him a contract worth $2.5 million per year through the 2027 season. 

Durkin has been a defensive coordinator for nearly a decade and just finished his first season at Auburn. That didn’t stop the Tigers from making a huge investment into their future together on the plains. The $2.5 million contract makes Durkin the second highest paid coordinator in the country, behind Jim Knowles at Penn State’s $3.1 million. 

Auburn ranked in the top half of the SEC in scoring and rushing defense this past season and ranked ninth in both passing defense and total yards allowed. Auburn’s defense has a lot of young talent from two straight top ten recruiting classes. They just signed a top three class in the transfer portal window, as well.