Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin has secured a one-year contract extension along with a substantial salary increase, according to documents obtained by AL.com through a public records request.
Originally signed in 2024, Durkin’s contract was initially set to run through the 2026 season. However, with this extension, his tenure now extends through 2027. His base salary has also skyrocketed to $2.5 million—more than double the $1.2 million he earned in 2024 and significantly higher than the $1.4 million he was scheduled to make in 2025 under his previous contract terms.
Durkin’s new deal includes an annual $200,000 salary increase, positioning him to earn $2.7 million in 2026 and $2.9 million in 2027. This boost places him among the highest-paid coordinators in college football, trailing Penn State’s Jim Knowles, who leads the pack with a $3.1 million annual salary.
Last season, Durkin guided Auburn’s defense to an impressive finish, ranking 28th nationally in points allowed per game and 31st in total yards allowed. Before joining Auburn, he served as the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
Durkin’s coaching career also includes a controversial stint as Maryland’s head coach from 2016 to 2017. His tenure ended abruptly following the tragic death of Maryland offensive lineman Jordan McNair, who suffered fatal heat stroke after collapsing during a team workout. Initially suspended in the wake of McNair’s passing, Durkin was briefly reinstated before being fired amid widespread public backlash.
This offseason, Auburn made additional changes to its defensive staff, bringing in safeties coach TJ Rushing and outside linebackers coach Roc Bellantoni. Rushing steps in for Charles Kelly, who departed to become Jacksonville State’s head coach, while Bellantoni replaces Josh Aldridge, now the defensive coordinator at East Carolina.
