Oklahoma gives raise to coach Lincoln Riley, who will now make more than QB Kyler Murray
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Kyler Murray had a big decision to make this offseason. As a talented athlete in both baseball and football, the Oklahoma quarterback and outfielder is in a unique situation.
Earlier this month, he was drafted by the Oakland Athletics with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, putting his football future in jeopardy.
However, the rising junior will play one more year with the Sooners’ football team, and then will pursue professional baseball. His $4.7 million signing bonus with the A’s would have made him the highest-paid person with the Oklahoma football team, though, beating out coach Lincoln Riley.
On Tuesday, the Sooners took care of that situation, offering Riley a new contract that will pay him $25 million over the next five years:
Riley’s contract is now extended through the 2023 season. His five-year deal includes a $100,000 raise each season, equaling a $25 million deal and average of $5 million per season.#Sooners
— Eric Bailey (@EricBaileyTW) June 19, 2018
That, of course, means he’ll make just over what Murray will make this fall, but only by $100,000:
Lincoln Riley will make $4.8 million next year, making him the highest paid person on OU’s football team. Kyler Murray is second at $4.7 million
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) June 19, 2018
Murray has already signed with the A’s, so Oakland can’t sneak him some extra money now to make his salary higher than his coach’s, but it will still be an interesting situation in Norman this fall.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
