Matthew McConaughey’s Respect for Steve Sarkisian’s Vision Has Made Him a Less Vocal Texas Longhorns Superfan (2024)

Matthew McConaughey’s true self — heart and soul — comes out when he is around football. Yes, he is a fan. Specifically, a Texas Longhorns fan, having been born and raised in the Lone Star State. McConaughey is an immersed Longhorns follower, and is known for his sideline conversations with the players. That has changed now, albeit for positive reasons. And he credits one person for it — the brilliant Steve Sarkisian.

Advertisement

“I don’t talk to the players as much anymore,” said the actor on The Eli Manning Show.

McConaughey, an alumnus of the Texas football program from the early 1990s, is pretty invested while at the stadium. He interacts with fans, talks to the players, and at times, offers them advice.

The change in McConaughey’s sideline presence has got a lot to do with how he respects Sarkisian‘s way of working. The actor doesn’t want to confuse the players with two lines of communication.

Sarkisian, as a “singular voice”, has elevated the program to great heights. McConaughey respects that.

“Sark, he wants to be the singular voice for that team… There’s nothing against me saying anything to the team, but I like that he’s not looking for another outside voice,” McConaughey revealed.

The head coach’s vision is clearly working. Sarkisian has spent the past four years patiently rebuilding the Texas program.

From a 5-7 finish in 2021, the side improved to 8-5 in 2022. Then came the historic 2023 season where they registered a 12-2 record, Big 12 Championship, and finished No. 3 in the final ranking. They also reached the College Football Playoff semifinals. With a 8-1 record so far this year, they seem on course for more.

The distance with the players notwithstanding, McConaughey is still closely connected with the Texas program.

McConaughey has served several roles at University of Texas

In 2019, McConaughey was officially appointed as a professor at the University of Texas, teaching the ‘Script to Screen’ film course, which he helped develop. Prior to that, he served as a visiting faculty since 2015, teaching students radio, TV, and related fields.

His professorship at the university deepened his love and dedication toward the Longhorns.

Outside of college football, McConaughey is a Washington Commanders fan in the big league. His loyalty didn’t begin with Jayden Daniels, though. The actor has been a staunch supporter of the team since he was four, when the Commanders were the Redskin, or ‘Skins’ as he prefers calling them. His love started with Hall of Fame linebacker Chris Hanburger.

McConaughey revealed that he was always left intrigued by how Hanburger would bear-hug his opponents, but wouldn’t hurl himself to the ground. The linebacker simply didn’t wish to fall, even if it meant the opponents gained a few extra yards.

His name, which sounded like ‘hamburger’, was also music to his ears. And, since the ‘hamburger’ days, McConaughey has been an invested Commanders fan.

About the author

Samnur Reza

Matthew McConaughey’s Respect for Steve Sarkisian’s Vision Has Made Him a Less Vocal Texas Longhorns Superfan (2)Matthew McConaughey’s Respect for Steve Sarkisian’s Vision Has Made Him a Less Vocal Texas Longhorns Superfan (3)Matthew McConaughey’s Respect for Steve Sarkisian’s Vision Has Made Him a Less Vocal Texas Longhorns Superfan (4)

Samnur Reza is an NFL editor for The SportsRush. He holds a degree in English Honors and joined The SportsRush editorial team in 2023. Having previously worked as a freelancer and several media outlets, Samnur has been religiously following the National Football League for the past six and a half years.Samnur first started following football after Tom Brady's cameo in Ted 2. It wasn’t long before he found himself grabbing a bucket of popcorn to enjoy football games. He still vividly remembers his first-ever fixture: a 2011 matchup between the Patriots and Raiders, where Brady led his team to a 31-19 victory. Even so, Samnur believes Brady’s best performance came against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, a game he still revisits from time to time.Samnur diligently follows most NFL athletes, their family members, and even the NCAA. Thus, he considers himself a diverse writer, having covered almost every corner of the football world. He does, however, have a special interest in athlete-centric stories. Whenever they engage in off-field ventures or charitable activities, Samnur enjoys reading and writing about them.Samnur had already authored over 850 NFL-based articles before becoming an editor. His editorial journey began just a little over a year ago.Beyond football, Samnur is a true cinephile with an extensive repertoire of films. He’s also fond of cats and has a furry friend named ‘Eva.’ During his free time, Samnur enjoys playing video games, currently immersed in God of War: Ragnarök. Having recently learned how to ride a bike, he now wishes to travel almost everywhere on it.

Matthew McConaughey’s Respect for Steve Sarkisian’s Vision Has Made Him a Less Vocal Texas Longhorns Superfan (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Sen. Emmett Berge

Last Updated:

Views: 5945

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Sen. Emmett Berge

Birthday: 1993-06-17

Address: 787 Elvis Divide, Port Brice, OH 24507-6802

Phone: +9779049645255

Job: Senior Healthcare Specialist

Hobby: Cycling, Model building, Kitesurfing, Origami, Lapidary, Dance, Basketball

Introduction: My name is Sen. Emmett Berge, I am a funny, vast, charming, courageous, enthusiastic, jolly, famous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.