James Franklin’s boss, athletic director Pat Kraft, received a huge contract extension with Penn State on Monday.

Later in the day, Franklin was asked about Kraft’s extension and had glowing things to say about the AD.

“We got a man leading the department that is a competitor, and I’m talking about a fierce competitor in everything he does,” Franklin declared.

Franklin also stressed the importance of stability within the athletic department, and called it a “differentiator like never before.”

“I think it was strategically the right thing to do,” Franklin added. “I know a lot of coaches and people are very, very happy about it (the extension).”

Kraft has been at the helm in State College since July 2022. The administrator previously worked at Boston College and Temple University. Since coming to Penn State, Kraft has overseen 19 nationally-ranked teams and was instrumental in securing the funds to renovate Beaver Stadium.

Franklin, meanwhile, is seeking to secure his third-straight season of double-digit wins. In 2023, the Nittany Lions finished with a 10-3 record and secured an appearance in the Peach Bowl. In 2022, Franklin led the team to an 11-2 record and a Rose Bowl win.

The Nittany Lions will kick off the 2024 season against the West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday, August 31.