In his latest head coach profile video, former Nittany Lions offensive lineman Landon Tengwall made his case for why Penn State should hire Louisville’s Jeff Brohm, calling him “as Penn State as it gets.” For Tengwall, this isn’t about hiring the flashiest name or chasing the hottest coordinator. It’s about finding someone who understands what Penn State football has always been: tough, humble, and relentlessly blue-collar.

“He’s a bring-your-lunch-pail-to-work type of head coach,” Tengwall said. “If you told me there’s anything more Penn State than Jeff Brohm, I don’t believe it.”

Brohm makes over $5 million a year and still drives the same 2004 Honda Accord he bought as a young assistant. When it was towed from Purdue’s lot because security didn’t believe a head coach would own it, Brohm just laughed and had it brought back. “He drives it to remember where he came from,” Tengwall said. “Tell me that doesn’t sound like a Penn State head coach.”

The XFL clip that sold Tengwall on Brohm’s toughness

For Tengwall, there’s one moment that defined Brohm’s character. He pulled up the famous XFL clip of Brohm being interviewed six days after a brutal hit that sent him to the hospital. Asked how he was already back on the field, Brohm deadpanned: “Do I or do I not currently have a pulse? Yes, I do. Let’s play football.”

Tengwall reacted enthusiastically at the clip, saying, “Sign him up. That’s who I want leading my football team.”

For a Penn State program still reeling from James Franklin’s firing, Tengwall believes Brohm’s mix of grit and steadiness would immediately stabilize the locker room. “He’s blue-collar, hardworking, and elite at motivating players,” Tengwall said. “You can tell his players love him. That’s the kind of energy Penn State needs right now.”

Brohm’s offensive adaptability is exactly what Penn State needs

Beyond the persona, Brohm’s football credentials check every box for a Big Ten rebuild. What stands out most to Tengwall is his ability to adapt offensively. At Purdue, Brohm ran one of the most pass-heavy schemes in the country — nearly 65 percent of plays came through the air. When he took over at Louisville, he flipped the formula, leaning on a 55–45 run-pass split in 2023.

“That’s the sign of a coach who builds around what he has, not what he wants,” Tengwall explained. “He’s not a system guy. He’s a scheme guy.”

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Brohm also calls his own plays, which Tengwall sees as a massive advantage in an era where offensive identity has become Penn State’s biggest question mark. His offenses are quarterback-friendly and consistently elevate No. 1 receivers, who often lead their conferences in yards and touchdowns.

“Penn State hasn’t had a receiver like that since Jahan Dotson,” Tengwall said. “If you give Brohm the keys, you’ll start seeing top wideouts want to transfer in because they know they’ll get fed.”

Brohm’s record in big games speaks for itself

Perhaps the most persuasive part of Tengwall’s argument is Brohm’s track record when the stakes are highest. He’s 4–4 against top-five opponents in his head coaching career. James Franklin went 1–14 under those same circumstances.

“That tells you everything about his leadership,” Tengwall said. “When your players love you, they play above their ceiling. Brohm’s teams do that over and over again.”

The challenge: convincing Brohm to leave Louisville

The only real obstacle Tengwall sees is geography. Brohm is Louisville through and through — born there, raised there, played there, and now coaching there with family ties woven deep into the program. “He’s what Jim Harbaugh is to Michigan,” Tengwall said. “Not just an alum, but a hometown legend.”

Convincing him to leave would take more than money. Brohm is currently the 43rd-highest-paid head coach in college football and sixth in the ACC despite arguably being one of its best. “He doesn’t chase money or notoriety,” Tengwall said. “He loves being where he’s from.”

But if athletic director Pat Kraft can sell Brohm on the idea that Penn State is ready for someone who embodies its blue-collar identity — someone who wins big games, develops quarterbacks, and stays grounded no matter how high he climbs — it could work.

“Everything about Jeff Brohm lines up with what Penn State stands for,” Tengwall said. “He wins big games, develops quarterbacks, and stays grounded no matter how high he climbs. That’s the kind of leader who could walk into Beaver Stadium and immediately feel like he belongs.”

If Kraft wants to restore Penn State’s culture while reigniting its offense, Tengwall believes the answer isn’t flash, but blue-collar grit. It needs a football coach who drives a 2004 Honda Accord and still believes in showing up to work with a lunch pail. In other words, it needs Jeff Brohm.

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