Georgia Tech coach Brent Key addresses his name being linked to open coaching jobs: 'See what colors I bleed'

Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key has completely revitalized the program since being promoted from interim head coach to head coach prior to the 2023 season. The results speak for themselves.

After posting back-to-back 7-6 seasons in 2023 and 2024, Key has led the Yellow Jackets to an 8-1 start this season. With all eyes on a potential College Football Playoff berth, many have linked Key to head coach openings across the country.

On Thursday, however, he quietly shut down those rumors with a statement. Key, who played on the offensive line at Georgia Tech from 1997-2000, boasted that he bleeds Yellow Jacket gold and white and would not be leaving for another job.

“Since I came back here, since I was named the head coach here, outside of the time with my family, every waking second of my life, has gone towards building this program, to get to the point that it is right now,” Key said via Jackets Online‘s Kelly Quinlan. “So that in turn we can continue three years from now, five years from now, 10 years from now, continue to elevate this place to be in that conversation.

“Not to be in there for two or three weeks, but to be a consistent team, not when you lose one game, have people say the storybook is over. Nah, it’s just the beginning. Slice me open and see what colors I bleed.”

Georgia Tech remains in play for first ever CFP appearance

Georgia Tech opened the season 8-0, but suffered its first loss of the season last Saturday against NC State. With three regular season games remaining, however, Tech is still well in contention to make an appearance in the ACC Championship Game. It will finish conference play against 1-8 Boston College and 7-2 Pittsburgh, which has won five consecutive games since freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel took over.

“If you don’t get motivated when you lose, you shouldn’t be playing football,” Key said after the loss to the Wolfpack. “You’re not a competitor. We’ve got a lot of competitors in there, and they’ll respond the right way. That’s what we talked about. Our response is everything. I told them in the locker room, we got our butts kicked, give credit where it’s due. We can’t do anything about the game that just occurred except for learn from it.”

With major programs such as LSU, Penn State, Florida, Auburn, Arkansas and Virginia Tech still seeking a head coach, you can cross off Brent Key as a candidate. However, in this day and age of college football, you can never really rule anything out.