The Florida Gators are charging into December with momentum, capping a whirlwind month by naming Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as the program’s new head coach and finalizing the addition of a seasoned NFL executive to their leadership team.
Multiple sources report that Florida is putting the finishing touches on a deal to bring former Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwell into the fold as the Gators’ new general manager. Caldwell, who currently serves in the Philadelphia Eagles’ front office, will work alongside Sumrall to form the strategic core of a program looking to reclaim its place among college football’s elite.
The hires come after Florida parted ways with Billy Napier mid-season, turning to interim head coach Billy Gonzalez while conducting an aggressive nationwide search for Napier’s permanent replacement.
Early in the process, the Gators made a bold push for Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, reportedly prepared to offer one of the richest contracts in the sport and an expansive NIL war chest. As the search stretched into its final days, however, Kiffin’s decision appeared to narrow to either the open LSU job or remaining in Oxford, prompting Florida to pivot swiftly to its next target.
That target was Sumrall, who in just two seasons transformed Tulane into an AAC powerhouse and earned back-to-back Coach of the Year honors. Despite a late effort by Tulane to retain him with a lucrative extension, Sumrall chose Gainesville. On Sunday morning, he officially accepted the Florida job, and the university wasted no time making it official.
In his first public statement as the Gators’ head coach, Sumrall laid out a clear vision for the program’s future.
“The University of Florida is one of the premier programs in college football, and it’s an incredible honor to serve as the head football coach,” Sumrall said.
“I believe in building a team rooted in toughness, accountability and a relentless competitive spirit. Florida has everything necessary to compete at the highest level—the resources, the support, the tradition and the passion of Gator Nation. My family and I are excited to get to work. One of my first priorities will be to assemble an incredible staff, including an offensive coordinator who understands that, at Florida, having an explosive offense isn’t optional – it’s mandatory!”
With Sumrall now at the helm and Caldwell expected to bring NFL-level personnel expertise to the operation, Florida is signaling an ambitious reset. The Gators are betting that a blend of proven college success and professional front-office acumen can reignite a proud program hungry for its next championship era.
