Washington football is not far from being special again. The Huskies have a path, a plan, and a head coach who has already shown he can build fast. But here is the simple truth: the bright future in Seattle shines only if Jedd Fisch stays to see it through.

Why Jedd Fisch’s staying power matters at Washington

Fisch arrived at UW on January 14, 2024, with a clear record of turning teams around. He is 49 years old, with college and NFL chops that include a stint as the Patriots’ quarterbacks coach. More important than the resume lines, he brings a system and a voice that players follow. In today’s game, with the transfer portal and NIL shaping rosters overnight, the biggest edge any program can have is continuity at head coach.

The Huskies have already seen what instability can cost. Roster turnover and staff changes forced a reset. Fisch’s job was to rebuild quickly without letting the locker room or the fan base sag. So far, he’s done exactly that.

Proof of concept: the Arizona blueprint

Before UW, Fisch took Arizona from the bottom to 10-3 in 2023. Those Wildcats scored 36.1 points per game, gave up only 21.1, and rolled up 448 yards of offense per game. That is not a fluke. That’s a blueprint.

He brought that same plan north: modern offense, physical balance, and day-to-day discipline. It is not flashy talk. It is step-by-step building that shows up on Saturdays and in the classroom.

“Keep Fisch, keep the climb — it’s that simple.”

Two seasons in Seattle: from reset to results

Year 1 under Fisch ended 6-7 in 2024, but the Huskies earned a Sun Bowl berth and kept the home-field magic alive by reaching a 20-game win streak at Husky Stadium that year. Year 2 jumped to 9-4 in 2025. Add it up: 15-11 across two seasons.

That record tells part of the story. The culture tells the rest. In spring 2025, the team posted a program-record 3.27 GPA. That matters. It shows buy-in, focus, and daily habits that translate when games get tight.

Recruiting, the portal, and NIL: the new core of UW’s rebuild

In the modern era, signing day is only half the work. Fisch and his staff have pushed hard in recruiting while staying nimble in the transfer portal. The goal is simple: get older, get stronger, and keep smart depth at key spots. With NIL now part of every roster decision, alignment between coach, players, and supporters is critical. Washington is building that alignment. It needs the same leader steering it year after year.

“If a judge’s ruling can shape our roster, retention matters more than ever.”

What Fisch is saying about the plan

On December 8, 2025, Fisch spoke about how UW is preparing for a postseason opponent that “played in the CFP last year.” His message was clear: the Huskies aren’t easing up. “We’re going out. We are planning to bring the same team and play the same amount of reps as we did when we played Oregon a week ago. Um, our job is to go try to do everything we possibly can to beat a team that played in the CFP last year… Uh they’ll be a tough challenge.”

He also stressed offensive identity. “Yeah, there’s no question…. Uh, we we need to do that. That’s that’s what our offense is really balanced and built on right now.” Balance has been a steady theme with Fisch: run the ball when it matters, throw it with intent, and make the defense choose which poison it wants to take.

Roster clarity still hangs on outside decisions. “Um, there’s going to be uh decisions that’ll be made hopefully about a fifth year. That might be possible. I think we’re waiting on a judge to decide that December 15th.” That is the reality of today’s sport: eligibility rulings and portal windows can swing depth charts in a single week. Stability at head coach is how you ride those waves without wiping out.

Contract and context: what it means for Washington Huskies football

Fisch is under a seven-year deal that started in January 2024 and pays $7.75 million per year. That is top-tier money and sends a clear message: Washington wants this to be long term. He was born May 5, 1976, and sits right in that sweet spot where experience meets energy. He is young enough to grind the trail and old enough to have lived through multiple cycles of change.

Could other programs come calling? In this sport, they always do. That’s why UW’s investment—and the patience to let a plan mature—matters. The first two years show improvement in wins, growth in culture, and a system taking root. Pulling the plug now would hand that progress to someone else.

“Nine wins in Year 2 after a full reset? That’s a foundation, not a finish.”

What happens next if Jedd Fisch stays—or doesn’t

If Fisch stays, the Huskies have a strong chance to stack double-digit wins, protect home turf, and chase major bowls again. The blend of scheme, balance, and player development is already here. Add another year in the system and a few key portal wins, and the leap from good to great is in play.

If he doesn’t, the risk is obvious. In a portal world, a coaching change can trigger movement in the roster and the recruiting class. That slows momentum and turns a climb into another reset. Washington has already paid the tax on transition. It should not pay it twice.

Bottom line: the right leader at the right time

Washington fans can feel it: the program’s arrows are pointing up again. The numbers back it up—15-11 in two years, a 9-4 step forward in 2025, a 20-game home streak reached in 2024, and a record 3.27 GPA last spring. The coach has done this before at Arizona and is doing it again in Seattle.

The conclusion is simple and strong enough for anyone to see: keep Jedd Fisch, and the climb continues. Lose him, and the climb gets steeper. In college football’s new world, the most valuable recruit is the head coach you already have.