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Adam Rittenberg is a senior writer at ESPN
Purdue fired offensive coordinator Graham Harrell on Sunday as the team struggled to score points against FBS opponents.
Harrell, a record-setting quarterback at Texas Tech under Mike Leach, was the first significant personnel hire for Boilermakers coach Ryan Walters in 2022. They pursued and eventually landed a quarterback on the Hudson Card team, and Purdue scored 49 points and 35 pts. In wins over Minnesota. And Indiana late last season.
But after opening with 49 points against Indiana State, an FCS program, Purdue scored just 38 points overall in losses to Notre Dame, Oregon State and Nebraska. The Boilermakers didn’t reach the end zone until 1:29 remained in a 28-10 home loss to Nebraska on Saturday.
“Decisions like these are never easy,” Walters said in a statement. “After evaluating our start to the season, I felt it was best for our team to make a change now. We appreciate Graham’s contributions to our program and wish him the best for the future.”
Walters did not immediately announce who would handle the offensive play and coach the quarterbacks.
Harrell, 39, comes to Purdue with previous coordinator experience at West Virginia, USC and North Texas. Harrell is Purdue’s highest-paid assistant and was set to earn $950,000 this season plus $1 million in 2025. Harrell played a season in the CFL and spent 2010 to 2012 with the Green Bay Packers.
Purdue (1-3) visits Wisconsin on Saturday.
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