The Florida Gators took a 20-10 loss to the No. 3 LSU Tigers this past weekend, putting further emphasis on Billy Napier’s job status in Gainesville.
The defeat was Florida’s second straight, dropping Napier’s overall record to 20-21 since taking over the program. With the schedule only getting tougher from here, the pressure has intensified on the fourth-year coach, and speculation is already mounting about who could replace him.
One of the names that has surfaced frequently — dating back to last year — is Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. John Middlekauff, host of the 3 & Out podcast, said that if Kiffin isn’t interested, a bigger, more surprising option might emerge.
“If Lane wants the job (don’t see how he wouldn’t) be hard for Florida to zero in on anyone else right? Would guess Gruden’s agent will do a full court press,” Middlekauff said.
That would be Jon Gruden, who openly expressed his desire to coach in the SEC just before the season when he spoke to the Georgia Bulldogs.
“The only reason I really came here is I want to coach again,” Gruden said. “I’m being honest with you, I do not bulls***, either. I want to coach again. I’d die to coach in the SEC. I would love it. I would f---ing love it.”
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The Gators haven’t won 10 or more games since 2019 and last finished ranked in the top 25 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, when they went 8-4.
Gruden hasn’t coached in college since the 1980s, spending the bulk of his career in the NFL. His most recent job came with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he coached from 2018 until his resignation in October 2021 after emails containing racist, homophobic and misogynistic language were leaked as part of an NFL investigation.
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