Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin has signed a one-year contract extension and received a salary increase, according to contract details obtained by AL.com through a public records request.
Durkin’s original contract, signed in 2024, was set to expire after the 2026 season but has now been extended through 2027. The second-year defensive coordinator also received a salary increase, with his base pay rising to $2.5 million—more than double the $1.2 million he earned in 2024 and a significant jump from the $1.4 million he was scheduled to make in 2025 under his previous deal.
Durkin’s updated contract includes a $200,000 salary increase each season, putting him on track to earn $2.7 million in 2026 and $2.9 million in 2027.
With this new deal, he becomes one of the highest-paid coordinators in college football, trailing only Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who leads with a $3.1 million annual salary.
Last season, Durkin guided Auburn to one of the nation’s top defenses, ranking 28th in points allowed per game and 31st in total yards allowed. Before joining Auburn, he served as defensive coordinator at Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
Earlier in his career, Durkin was the head coach at Maryland in 2016 and 2017, but his tenure ended in controversy following the death of Maryland offensive lineman Jordan McNair.
McNair collapsed during a workout, was hospitalized with heat stroke, and passed away two weeks later. Durkin was initially suspended following McNair’s death but was later reinstated, only to be dismissed a day later amid public backlash.
This offseason, Auburn made two additions to its defensive coaching staff, bringing in safeties coach TJ Rushing and outside linebackers coach Roc Bellantoni. Rushing replaces former safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, who is now the head coach at Jacksonville State, while Bellantoni takes over for Josh Aldridge, who left to become East Carolina’s defensive coordinator.
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