It seems like Billy Napier’s time as Florida’s head coach may be running out, but one name that won’t be stepping in to replace him is Urban Meyer.
The former coach of both Florida and Ohio State addressed rumors on the Triple Option podcast, alongside Fox Sports colleagues Rob Stone and Mark Ingram. Meyer, who coached the Gators from 2005 to 2010, firmly denied the possibility, stating it’s not happening.
“That ship has sailed,” Meyer said, as reported by On3. “I want that program to succeed so badly. We gave a significant part of our lives to that program, and I know so many people there. But that ship has sailed.”
Meyer, now 60, hasn’t coached since his short-lived NFL tenure with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021, where he went 2-11 and was fired before the season concluded. His college coaching career, however, was far more successful, boasting a 187-32 record, two national titles with Florida (2006, 2008), and another with Ohio State (2014).
It’s unclear if Florida is even considering Meyer for the role again, but given his history, it’s hard to say the door is fully shut. He’s denied interest in coaching positions in the past, only to eventually accept them.
Florida is currently 1-2 this season, with tough home losses to Miami and Texas A&M. The team faces Mississippi State this Saturday, with speculation swirling about Napier’s future.
Napier ended his first two seasons at Florida with records of 6-7 and 5-7, including a five-game losing streak to close out 2023. Should he be let go before the season ends, his buyout is expected to be around $27 million.
