Following a 33-20 blowout loss to Texas A&M, it appears Billy Napier is all but out as Florida’s head coach.
What went wrong in his just over two-year tenure, and who will the Gators hire to right the ship?
Billy Napier’s Downfall With the Florida Gators
In 2021, the Gators fired Dan Mullen after four years, a 34-15 record, three New Year’s Six bowl games, two 10-win campaigns, and an SEC East title.
To replace him, they hired Napier, a former Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban assistant who was coming off two straight AP Poll-ranked seasons as the head coach at Louisiana. After just two years and three games, it’s fair to say he wasn’t the right fit.
Napier’s 42.8 winning percentage (12-16) is the worst by a full-time Florida head coach since the 1940s, and if he is let go this week, his 12 wins and 28 games would be the fewest since the 1920s.
Additionally, the Gators’ six home losses under Napier are one more than they suffered with Urban Meyer (80 total contests) and Steve Spurrier (150), who each coached in far more games in Gainesville.
Yet, what’s worse than the sheer number of losses is who Florida lost to and how they did. Napier is 1-5 against program rivals Tennessee, Georgia and Florida State. If we also add Miami and LSU, that record is 1-9.
Speaking of records, here’s how Napier’s Gators performed against varying levels of competition:
- SEC: 7-16
- Power Five: 2-11
- Ranked teams: 2-11
Sorry, Florida faithful, there’s more. Ten of Napier’s 16 losses have been by double-digits, and in three others, the Gators trailed by at least 10 points. Included in the latter category are unforgettable losses to Vanderbilt (2022) and Arkansas (2023), casting a darker shadow on the Napier era.
However, there was some optimism surrounding the program this offseason, with Napier raving about practically every aspect of his team. But only one aspect has remained consistent during his tenure: Florida’s inability to play up to its potential.
The Gators kicked off the season with a home loss to in-state rival Miami — their first home-opening loss since 1989 and the most points allowed (41) in a home opener in program history. Most saw enough to call for Napier’s job, but others held out hope.
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Starting QB Graham Mertz suffered a concussion in the loss, thrusting five-star true freshman DJ Lagway into the lineup against FCS-level Samford in Week 2. All he did was complete 72% of his passes for 456 yards and three TDs, flashing his obvious potential.
Most saw starting Lagway for the rest of the season as Napier’s only way to remain Florida’s head coach into 2025. However, he didn’t believe so, opting to start a healthy Mertz against Texas A&M in Week 3, which was likely the nail in the coffin.
Napier and the Gators entered the locker room down 20-0 at halftime to roaring boos from the crowd. The sound swelled once more when a public service announcement by Napier speaking about NIL was shown on the big screen. But it got worse.
Trailing 26-7 midway through the third quarter, Mertz needed to produce a scoring drive — in a way, he did. On third-and-9, he forced a throw, resulting in a 45-yard pick-six and his benching in favor of Lagway.
What did the freshman do on the next possession? Lead the Gators on a 10-play, 72-yard TD drive.
Is Lagway the better player right now? Probably not, but he is the future of the program, and that’s all fans want to see in what appears to be another lost season.
Poor decision-making has plagued Napier in the Sunshine State, specifically when it comes to his coaching staff. While he has refused to declare who calls offensive or defensive plays, the Gators have two offensive coordinators, two defensive coordinators, and two offensive line coaches, a position group that has struggled mightily this season.
Oh, and then there is the matter of the team’s former strength and condition coach, who was removed from his role but is still on staff in an unknown capacity for over $700,000 a year.
Unfortunately, things will likely only get worse before they get better. Florida travels to Mississippi State this week and then faces UCF at home after a bye. From there, five of the Gators’ last seven games are against ranked teams, including Tennessee (No. 6), Georgia (No. 2), Texas (No. 1), and Ole Miss (No. 5), all of whom enter Week 4 in the AP top 10.
As the Napier era nears an unceremonious end, the focus now shifts to finding a coach who can restore the Gators to their former glory. According to ESPN, Florida is ready to move on, with boosters already funding a $26 million buyout.
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We’ve already explored five potential replacements, but amid all the uncertainty surrounding the program, one thing is clear: Florida must nail the next hire or risk sinking even further into mediocrity.
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