For the past few years, James Franklin has had to denounce rumors about leaving Penn State. There have been rumors about taking a job in the SEC and rumors about taking a job in the NFL.

Every time the questions have surfaced, Franklin has shot them down.

This week was no different. Franklin was asked about a potential departure to the NFL during a WIP interview and reiterated that he has no plans on departing from Happy Valley. He’s pretty pleased to be coaching the Nittany Lions.

“I’ve kind of been through that when I took the Penn State job,” Franklin said, according to PennLive.com. “I had four or five interviews in the NFL, one or two that I took, and three or so that I turned down once I took the Penn State job.

“This is an unbelievable situation for me and my family.”

Franklin will be entering his sixth season with Penn State this fall. In his first five seasons, he’s posted a 45-21 record and has claimed one B1G title. The Nittany Lions posted back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2016 and 2017.

Penn State went 9-4 last fall.

As if his success at State College isn’t enough, Franklin is a native of Pennsylvania, and says he’s worked his entire career to be able to have the opportunity to lead a program of Penn State’s caliber.

“I coached all over the country to get to a place like Penn State,” Franklin said. “This is my calling … to help educate young men and get a degree and then hopefully [they] chase their dream in the NFL.”

The rumors will continue to surface as long as Franklin is successful with the Nittany Lions. But it sounds like he’s planning to make Penn State his permanent residence for quite some time.