Schmidt last week announced he would finish up as Wallabies head coach after Australia hosts the British and Irish Lions and the annual showdowns with New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.
Most fans were hoping the wily New Zealander would continue through until the 2027 home Rugby World Cup after Schmidt restored the Wallabies' battered reputation with a successful spring tour of the UK in November.
The Wallabies stunned England at Twickenham and thrashed Wales in Cardiff in a huge turnaround from the disastrous, World Cup-ending loss to the Red Dragon a year earlier under Eddie Jones.
A loss to Scotland scuppered the Wallabies' grand slam dreams before Schmidt's side pushed his old, second-ranked Ireland outfit all the way in a tight 22-19 tour-ending defeat in Dublin.
But with Schmidt's son suffering from epilepsy and requiring regular medical treatment, the 60-year-old is unable to travel sufficiently to stay on as Wallabies head coach beyond 2025.
It is understood, though, that the former All Blacks assistant doesn't want to cut ties completely and may be open to serving Rugby Australia in a consultancy role.
But in typically humble Schmidt fashion, the Kiwi wants the approach to come from the incoming Test coach rather than being appointed in an overseer position by the governing body.
Queensland coach Les Kiss has an edge given he has worked alongside Schmidt previously with Ireland, so there would be some continuity for the Australian players.
Australia's other Super Rugby coaches Stephen Larkham (Brumbies), Dan McKellar (Waratahs) and Simon Cron (Western Force) are also in the mix, along with Michael Cheika, who previously coached the Wallabies between 2014 and 2019.
Ireland great Ronan O'Gara, who steered French club La Rochelle to Champions Cup titles in 2022 and 2023, and Kiwi Warren Gatland, this week sacked by Wales but still their most successful coach, are other options.
Gordon said keeping Schmidt involved would "for sure" be a great outcome for the Wallabies, crediting the popular mentor with reviving his Test career in 2024 after he was left out in the cold during the ill-fated Jones era.
"I loved last year," Gordon said on Thursday after the NSW Waratahs' captain's run in Sydney.
"The transition of having quite a tough six months there (at the Waratahs) and the last sort of six months where I really enjoyed it and I'm thankful that I got to do that.
"He (Schmidt) was awesome for my development as a rugby player and I'm just happy with whatever he wanted to do, and he's decided to really put his family first, which is a credit to him.
"And I know how much he loves rugby too. He really enjoys his rugby and I look back and reflect that I had a really good six months with him and hopefully I can rejoin him again for what's ahead.
"But I'm thankful I got to spend some time with him."
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