HANAGRIFF: South Louisiana may have entered the Nussmeier era in more ways than one

By Charles Hanagriff

There is no mistaking the Mannings as the most recognizable football family in the Southeastern Conference, or, for that matter, the entire southeast. 

Who am I kidding? It’s not just the southeast. Books, documentaries and countless hours of talk radio (believe me, I know) have been spent on one Manning or another. 

And even though Peyton went to Tennessee and Arch is currently at the University of Texas, the Mannings will forever be linked most prominently with Ole Miss. 

I’m wondering, 5-10 years from now, if the Nussmeier family might have a similar link with south Louisiana and LSU? 

There isn’t much need to introduce Garrett. He’s the 4,000-yard passer currently starting for the Tigers and the Heisman Trophy favorite at this point in the 2025 offseason. 

Nussmeier recently decided to come back for a fifth season, which isn’t at all rare these days. That all five years are at the same school is much more uncommon. 

Through an excruciating wait behind an eventual Heisman winner to fending off a challenge from an LSU legacy, Garrett Nussmeier has persevered. In his final year, he is expected to flourish. 

Down the road about 75 miles or so from Baton Rouge, a pretty important football game will kick off Sunday. For the Philadelphia Eagles, Garrett’s father Doug serves as quarterbacks coach. 

He might want to get familiar with the Superdome sidelines again. A former New Orleans Saints quarterback, Doug Nussmeier has followed offensive coordinator Kellen Moore through three NFL stops – Dallas, Los Angeles (Chargers) and now Philly. 

If, as expected, Moore is named as the new head coach of the Saints next week, Nussmeier will be a heavy favorite to accompany him to the Big Easy, most likely as offensive coordinator. 

Moore could also hire his brother Kirby, currently the offensive coordinator at Missouri, to the staff. 

Moore has stated publicly that he wishes to continue calling plays when he becomes a head coach. That’s understandable, but he could have heavy input from Nussmeier, who has certainly had his share of success calling plays in the state. 

In 2012, Nussmeier was the offensive coordinator at Alabama. Late in the fourth quarter, the Tide went 72 yards in 1:34 to escape Tiger Stadium with a 21-17 win. It was Nussmeier who called the back breaking, excruciating 28-yard screen to TJ Yeldon that did the Tigers in. Thirteen years later, that one still hurts. 

Four years later, Nussmeier was the offensive coordinator at Florida. In what was thought to be a make-or-break game for Ed Orgeron’s chances to get the LSU job permanently, the Gators drove 70 yards in 15 plays and took up over half of the fourth quarter on what turned out to be the game winning drive. 

Nussmeier was calling plays for quarterback Austin Appleby. Florida would add another field goal for a 16-10 win.  Orgeron would get the job anyway, but few leaving Tiger Stadium that afternoon thought he would at the time. 

When it came time for Garrett to make his decision on whether to enter the draft or not, there was no need to ask an advisory committee. His father could give him better advice than almost anyone. 

Doug’s pro career spanned four NFL teams and a CFL championship. He threw exactly one touchdown pass for the Saints (Who caught it? Answer below), but as a coach he has been everywhere. 

In addition to the jobs already mentioned, Nussmeier has coached quarterbacks for the Rams, Michigan St. and the Ottawa Renegades. He’s been an offensive coordinator for Fresno St, Washington and Michigan. 

For those scoring at home, that is three major conferences and two professional leagues in North America. I don’t imagine Doug will mind being a one-hour drive away from his son for Garrett’s final year of college football. 

Or a short flight to see his younger son Colton play quarterback as a junior at Marcus High School, in the Dallas suburb of Flower Mound. And maybe one day at LSU? 

Colton Nussmeier, 6-foot-3, 180-lbs. and a 2027 four-star recruit, already has an offer from the Tigers as well as most of the SEC heavyweights. 

The 2025 Tigers have a legitimate shot to make a deep run.  The 2025 Saints do not, but Doug Nussmeier and Kellen Moore understand that the rebuilding job they have there will take some time. 

Maybe enough time to see the younger Nussmeier take the LSU Tigers on a deep run as well. 

ANSWER: Wide receiver Terry Guess, a Saints fifth-round draft pick out of Gardner Webb in 1996, caught the only touchdown pass Doug Nussmeier threw in the NFL.  It was also the only career touchdown for Guess.