Megan Turner
Urban Meyer
We all know former Ohio State and Florida head coach Urban Meyer is headed to Jacksonville to coach the Jaguars.
One of the most successful coaches in college football history was named the Jaguars’ head coach on Thursday, but did you know he is a brother of Sigma Chi?
Meyer graduated in 1986 from the University of Cincinnati. In 2005, Meyer was a recipient of The Significant Sig Award, which recognizes members who have achieved high levels of professional success.
Arthur Smith
The Atlanta Falcons announced its new head coach on Friday. Falcons owner and Chairman Arthur Blank said Smith is a dynamic leader.
“… Arthur [Smith] stood out amongst a very deep and very talented candidate pool with an outstanding plan for our organization to return to the level of competition our fans deserve and expect,” Blank said. “He has all the characteristics of a strong leader and while his achievements have primarily come on the offensive side of the ball, he has provided a plan that is comprehensive within all three phases of the game.”
Smith — who has been with the Tennessee Titans since 2011, most recently as the offensive coordinator — also graduated from North Carolina and is a brother of Sigma Chi.
Kliff Kingsbury
Kliff Kingsbury, head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, is also a Significant Sig.
The Texas Tech alumni and former coach was hired in January 2019.
“I’m fired up for coach Kingsbury and his family,” former Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes, now the quarterback of the Chiefs, said in 2019. “The Cardinals are getting an outstanding, football coach and an even better person. He’s smart, creative, passionate, and really understands how to develop and relate to players. I feel like he played a huge role in preparing me for the next step, and I’m grateful for that.”
Sean Payton … and Drew Brees, I know he isn’t a coach.
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees are also Significant Sigs. How can you mention the Saints’ head coach without mentioning the QB?
Payton, who graduated from Eastern Illinois in 1987, was an All-American quarterback at the school and named to the All-Sig Football team.
Brees graduated from Purdue in 2001.
After Hurricane Katrina in 2007, Brees arranged downtown hotel rooms for more than 75 Sigma Chi fraternity brothers from universities around the country and Canada so they could work on a handful of Habitat for Humanity houses, ESPN reported.
The ESPN headline is my favorite part: “Brees gathers frat brothers to work, and play, in New Orleans.“
Ryan Pace
Ryan Pace is the general manager for the Chicago Bears, and also a Significant Sig.
He was named 2018 Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year and in his sixth season as general manager of the Chicago Bears. Pace previously worked New Orleans Saints’ front office for 14 years.
So, which fraternity has the most alumni in NFL leadership positions?
It has to be Sigma Chi.
