Osborne was named Nebraska's head coach following the 1972 season and under his direction, the program achieved remarkable success, exceeding any in its rich history. Osborne's 25-year coaching career came to a poetic end in the 1998 Orange Bowl. In his final game, the Huskers defeated No. 3 Tennessee, 42-17, giving Osborne a share of a third national title in four seasons. The victory left Osborne as the first coach in college football history to retire as a reigning national champion. He also left the sideline with the nation's best active winning percentage (.836, 255-49-3), a mark that still ranks sixth all-time among Division I coaches.

Osborne guided the Huskers to back-to-back national titles in 1994 and 1995, then capped his career by sharing the 1997 title with Michigan. Nebraska's back-to-back national titles in 1994 and 1995 made Osborne the first coach to accomplish that feat since Bear Bryant in 1978-79.

Under Osborne, Nebraska became just the second school all time to post back-to-back perfect national championship seasons. In fact, Osborne's last five Nebraska teams put together the best five-year run in college football history with an amazing 60-3 record, including five consecutive 11-win seasons.

Osborne-coached Nebraska teams captured 13 conference crowns, including six of his final seven seasons as head coach. All 25 of his Husker teams won at least nine games and played in a bowl, with 15 of his Husker teams winning 10 or more games. Osborne's 255 career victories are the eighth-most all-time among major college football coaches.

His achievements were so highly regarded that the National Football Foundation waived its three-year waiting period so that he could be inducted into its Hall of Fame in December of 1998. He is one of only four coaches in history to have the mandatory three-year waiting period waived.

Widely known for his leadership, integrity, honor and compassion, Osborne has poured time and effort into building a unique mentoring program within the state. The TeamMates program, founded by Tom and his wife, Nancy, started with 22 football players in 1991, provides support and encouragement to school-aged youth with the goal of seeing children graduate from high school and pursue a post-secondary education. TeamMates celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022 and has expanded into more than 10,000 matches in a five-state region.

Osborne and his wife, Nancy, have three adult children, Mike, Ann and Suzanne and five grandchildren.