ESPN issued a detailed hiring grade for Michigan State football following the program’s decision to bring in Pat Fitzgerald, framing the move as both ambitious and complex given the current state of the Spartans. The evaluation focused on Fitzgerald’s long résumé, leadership background, and familiarity with the Big Ten, while also emphasizing the significant challenges he would face in rebuilding trust, culture, and competitiveness within the program.
According to ESPN’s analysis, Fitzgerald’s strongest asset is his proven leadership. During his long tenure at Northwestern, he was widely known for establishing stability, accountability, and a strong internal culture. ESPN noted that Michigan State, coming off recent turmoil and inconsistency, is in need of exactly that kind of steady hand. Fitzgerald’s ability to set clear expectations, demand discipline, and unify players around a shared identity was highlighted as a critical reason the hire earned a solid grade.
Another major factor in ESPN’s assessment was Fitzgerald’s defensive pedigree. As a former linebacker and longtime defensive-minded head coach, Fitzgerald built many of his Northwestern teams around physical, well-organized defenses that could compete even when offensive production lagged. ESPN suggested that this approach aligns well with Michigan State’s historical identity, which has often leaned on toughness, defensive strength, and physical play to succeed in the Big Ten. Reestablishing that identity, the article argued, could help the Spartans regain respect within the conference.
Fitzgerald’s extensive Big Ten experience also weighed heavily in the hiring grade. ESPN pointed out that few coaches understand the league’s demands, recruiting landscape, and week-to-week grind better than Fitzgerald. Having spent nearly his entire coaching career in the conference, he brings familiarity with rival programs, recruiting territories, and the unique challenges of Big Ten football. This experience could shorten the learning curve and help Michigan State stabilize more quickly.
However, ESPN was clear that the hire is not without risk. Rebuilding trust within the program and among fans was identified as one of Fitzgerald’s biggest challenges. The article emphasized that culture change does not happen overnight, especially in a program seeking to move past recent issues. Additionally, ESPN noted concerns about offensive innovation and recruiting momentum, areas where Michigan State will need to show clear improvement to compete consistently with the conference’s top teams.
Overall, ESPN’s hiring grade reflected cautious optimism. While acknowledging legitimate concerns, the evaluation suggested that Fitzgerald’s leadership, experience, and defensive foundation give Michigan State a credible path forward, provided patience and alignment across the program follow.