Gary Patterson is wearing Texas Longhorns gear these days.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, Patterson is headed to the Forty Acres.

The longtime TCU head football coach was seen with Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte at the Longhorns’ men’s basketball game on Tuesday night. Patterson was donning a pullover with the Texas logo and it seems to be just a matter of time before he joins Steve Sarkisian’s staff at the University of Texas as a “special assistant to the head coach.”

Patterson told the Austin American-Statesman that there is “nothing official.” At least not yet.

Patterson joining the Longhorns in some capacity has been rumored for weeks, and UT recently posted a job opening for “special assistant to the head coach.” That’s the same title Patterson gave Jerry Kill when he joined Patterson’s staff before the 2020 season at TCU.

Patterson, 61, has been linked as a potential target to join the Longhorns in some capacity for weeks. Among Patterson’s duties, if he’s hired in the “special assistant” capacity, would include assisting Sarkisian with special projects, overall practice and game day preparation and self-scouting of offensive, defensive and special teams schemes.

The job description fits a similar role that Kill filled for Patterson the past two seasons.

Patterson and TCU parted ways on Oct. 31 as the Horned Frogs started 3-5 on the season. It was an unceremonious end to Patterson’s stellar tenure with the school.

Patterson is the program’s all-time winningest head coach, winning 70% of his games (181-79) over 21 seasons. He is regarded as one of the top defensive minds of this generation with TCU’s defense being ranked No. 1 in the country five times under Patterson.

But TCU regressed in recent years, posting a sub-.500 record from the 2018 season until Patterson’s dismissal on Halloween night. This year’s TCU defense ranked 119th out of 130 teams in total defense.

Sarkisian and the Longhorns would be banking on Patterson providing a fresh perspective on the program. Patterson had a 7-3 record against Texas since TCU joined the Big 12 in 2012.

Plus, Texas’ defense reeled much of the 2021 season, ranking 100th in total defense in the country. But signs point to Sarkisian sticking with Pete Kwiatkowski as the program’s defensive coordinator. Jeff Choate carries a co-defensive coordinator title with the Longhorns as well.

Patterson reportedly met with the staff last week, and the meeting went well. Texas then posted the job on Sunday and Patterson has reportedly attended staff meetings this week. Now he’s been seen in public with Texas gear sitting next to the AD. It seems like a matter of time before it’s official.

The move would add another layer to the TCU-Texas rivalry. TCU and Texas play on Nov. 12 in Austin next season.

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