Florida Making Major Staff Move After Jon Sumrall Hiring

By Nelson Espinal

Contributing Sports Reporter

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The Florida Gators are ending the month of November with a bang, hiring Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall as their next program builder, and they have made another staff move to pair with their new coach.

According to Pete Nakes of On3, the Gators are finalizing the hiring of former Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwell.

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Caldwell, who is currently an executive in the Philadelphia Eagles' front office, will become Florida's general manager, adding a decision-maker alongside Sumrall to form the key brain trust at the program.

Florida is embarking on a new era after firing head coach Billy Napier during the season. Interim coach Billy Gonzalez took over while a coaching search was underway.

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Initially, the Gators were in the mix to nab Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss, offering him one of the most significant salaries in college football along with a massive NIL budget.

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Over the last days of the process, it became clear that Kiffin would decide between the LSU Tigers' opening and staying at Ole Miss.

Florida moved on to Sumrall quickly, and they landed their top target after Tulane reportedly offered a contract extension.

Jon Sumrall Addresses Florida Fans Following Hiring

On Sunday morning, Sumrall decided to become the next head coach of the Gators, and an announcement quickly followed in which he addressed the program's followers and made his mission statement clear.

"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!"

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