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James Franklin (Photo By Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images)
The news shocked everyone at Happy Valley. Penn State not only lost back-to-back games, but it also lost its longtime head coach. James Franklin, who led the Nittany Lions for over a decade, has been fired. And this wasn’t a friendly split.

Football Scoop reports that athletic director Pat Kraft sent a letter to players after firing Franklin. The letter wasn’t angry, but it was firm. Kraft explained the decision came after careful thought and a growing feeling that Penn State had reached its limit under Franklin.

Fans were expecting it, actually. Three straight losses to Oregon, UCLA, and Northwestern turned a season once filled with championship hopes into a slow, frustrating unravel. The Nittany Lions entered 2025 with talk of a national title. Instead, they got heartbreak, finger-pointing, and now, a coaching vacancy.

Inside Pat Kraft’s Letter To The Penn State Team

Greg Pickel on X: "Penn State is one of the first two programs to sign on for Elevate's eight-figure College Investment Initiative, per @PeteNakos_. @Sportico first reported the news. Story: https://t.co/hmZrDKGq94 https://t.co/6FOmInLx3t" /
Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft (Photo Via Imagn Images)
Kraft started his message directly, he said, “We have made a change in the leadership of our football program as Coach Franklin will no longer be the head football coach.”

He followed with praise for Franklin’s effort and commitment but admitted what many fans already felt, the program needed new energy. “After careful consideration of the program’s trajectory and performance, I believe new leadership is necessary to position Penn State Football for long-term success,” Kraft wrote.

It’s clear what the issue was. Franklin’s record was decent, but it had limits. Since 2016, he’s had only two top-10 wins: one against an injury-hit Utah team in the 2023 Rose Bowl and another over Boise State in last year’s College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

But consistency, not talent, became Franklin’s downfall. When the team faltered this season, the confidence of fans and donors vanished. In a program that thrives on belief, losing faith causes everything else to collapse.

And for those who’ve followed Franklin closely, this isn’t the first time emotions ran high around him. A few days back, cameras caught James Franklin scolding and heckling high school students, showing the growing tension during his time as coach.

Kraft’s letter wasn’t just a notice of change. It was a reset button for Penn State Football. And now, the question everyone’s asking in Happy Valley is simple: who’s next to lead the Lions back to belief?