Auburn's Gus Malzahn shoots down NFL coaching question

MOBILE, Ala. -- If we can make a case for Bill Belichick the college football coach, why not Gus Malzahn the NFL coach?

The Auburn head coach showed up at the Senior Bowl on Thursday to take in practice and to pose in a picture with his former players in attendance. Alabama's Nick Saban showed up earlier in the week for the same reason.

The NFL has taken a liking to using Malzahn's plays. The Seattle Seahawks, for instance, like to use some of Malzahn's zone read, including a crafty pop pass where Russell Wilson looks for a hand-off and can pull the ball the ball back to either run or quickly tosses a short pass. Here it is in action:

After taking a picture with Sammie Coates, Gabe Wright, Cameron Artis-Payne, Reese Dismukes, C.J. Uzomah and Nick Marshall, Malzahn answered some questions in front of a small scrum of reporters.

Naturally, about question about making the jump to the NFL had to be asked. Could the Tigers' coach eventually be interested in coaching the pros? He was mostly vague in his answer (and possibly displeased in even being asked about it).

"I’m happy at Auburn. I love being at Auburn," Malzahn said. "We’ve got a bright future and a lot of great things going on. We just need to get back to winning championships."

But what about these NFL teams using your signature plays on Sundays?

"Well, football is football," he said. "You see the game. A lot of people are playing fast. A lot of people are playing read zone. That's a big weapon if you run it effectively."

And so, that ends any non-speculation about Gus Malzahn in the NFL.

For now.