Mack Brown stopped by to see the Texas Longhorns just ahead of the season kickoff, wanting a closer look at the team before opening day.

As the Texas Longhorns gear up for one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory, an unexpected yet welcome visitor made his way to Austin just days before kickoff — none other than former Longhorns head coach Mack Brown. The legendary coach, who led Texas to national prominence during his 16-season tenure, stopped by practice to get an up-close look at the current squad and reconnect with the program he once built into a powerhouse.

The visit, while informal, carried a great deal of symbolic weight. For Texas fans, players, and staff, seeing Brown on the sidelines again served as a reminder of past glory and a subtle nod to the high expectations surrounding the 2025 Longhorns.

A Legacy That Still Resonates

Mack Brown’s name still holds tremendous weight in Austin. From 1998 to 2013, Brown transformed Texas into a perennial national title contender. His 2005 team, led by Vince Young, went undefeated and won the national championship in one of the most iconic games in college football history — a 41–38 thriller over USC in the Rose Bowl.

Even now, years after his departure, Brown’s influence can still be felt around the program. Many of today’s coaches and staff members were inspired by or learned under Brown’s leadership. His emphasis on culture, player development, and community engagement helped establish a blueprint for success that head coach Steve Sarkisian is now trying to refine and elevate.

Why Now?

With the season opener just days away, the timing of Brown’s visit wasn’t lost on anyone. It wasn’t just a casual drop-in. It was deliberate. It was meaningful.

Sources close to the program say Brown wanted to see firsthand how Sarkisian’s team is coming together after a championship-contending season and how the next generation of Texas talent is responding to the pressure of being ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“He just wanted to feel the energy again,” one staffer noted. “This is still his home in a lot of ways. And there’s something special about seeing it all come full circle.”

For Brown, now the head coach at North Carolina, the visit may also have been a brief escape from his own preparation duties, and a moment to reconnect with the roots of his coaching legacy.

Observing the Future: Arch Manning and Company

Brown’s visit also gave him a firsthand look at one of the most talked-about quarterbacks in college football: Arch Manning. The freshman phenom, carrying the weight of an iconic last name, is stepping into the spotlight this season as Texas’ starting quarterback. The buzz around Manning is palpable, and Brown reportedly spent several minutes watching him throw during practice, chatting briefly with quarterback coach A.J. Milwee afterward.

While Brown didn’t speak publicly during his visit, those on the scene say he was clearly impressed with the precision and command Manning showed on the field. For a coach who’s worked with his share of elite QBs — including Vince Young and Colt McCoy — that nod of approval goes a long way.

Sarkisian Welcomes the Legend

Steve Sarkisian, now entering his fifth year as head coach, welcomed Brown with open arms. The two exchanged a long handshake and spoke at length near midfield before practice began.

Sarkisian, who has never shied away from respecting the history of the program, has often credited Brown for laying the cultural foundation that still exists today. Having someone like Mack Brown come through at such a pivotal moment can be both energizing and grounding for a team that’s being hyped as a national title frontrunner.

“It’s always great to have Coach Brown around,” Sarkisian said in a short press scrum later that day. “He’s done so much for this program, and having his presence here during game week — it just adds something special. The guys respect him, and we all do.”

A Teaching Moment for Young Players

For the current Texas roster — many of whom were barely in elementary school during Brown’s coaching prime — his presence might not initially register the same way it does with older fans. But after hearing coaches speak of his legacy, and after witnessing how others in the facility reacted to his arrival, the weight of the moment quickly sank in.

Linebacker Jaylen Ford, one of the team’s veteran leaders, said the younger players were curious about who “the older gentleman with the aura” was. Once they realized it was Mack Brown, a wave of respect followed.

“You just felt the mood shift,” Ford said. “Guys were locked in. They understood that this is a person who helped make Texas what it is. When a legend shows up, you listen. You pay attention. And you want to show out.”

Brown reportedly offered a few words of encouragement in the locker room after practice, emphasizing preparation, unity, and the importance of carrying the Texas name with pride.

Full Circle in Austin

Brown’s brief return felt like a full-circle moment — not only for the program but for Brown himself. From 1998 to 2013, he watched Texas rise, fall, and rise again. His tenure ended in 2013 amid declining records and program fatigue, but the years since have only further cemented his legacy.

By returning now, just as Texas appears to be on the brink of another national title run, it’s as if the program has finally returned to the level he always believed it could reach.

It was never just about football for Mack Brown. It was about people, community, and building something that lasts. And seeing his old team take the field, under new leadership but with the same high expectations, must have stirred something personal.

What’s Next for the Longhorns?

With the season opener just days away, the Longhorns are laser-focused on the task ahead: a massive road game at Ohio State, where they’ll face a hostile crowd and a well-coached, hungry Buckeyes team. It’s the kind of game that can define a season — or derail it.

But perhaps Brown’s visit gave the team a timely reminder of who they are and what they represent. A nod from the past, pointing toward the future.

If Texas hopes to return to the mountaintop, moments like these matter — the blending of legacy and ambition, tradition and innovation. And while Mack Brown may now call Chapel Hill home, his heart clearly still beats in burnt orange.

As one Longhorns staff member put it, “When Mack walks through those doors, it still feels like Texas football.”