Florida Announces It Will Not Be Firing Billy Napier, a Very Normal Thing To Do When You Have a Good Head Coach

As is customary for any big-time football program with a coach it believes in, Florida announced before its ninth game of the season that Billy Napier will return in 2025 rather than be fired as many predicted coming into the season. Oregon and Georgia haven't released their letters saying Dan Lanning and Kirby Smart will be back on the sidelines next season, but I'm sure they're coming any day now.

While I don't think this necessitated a letter to the fanbase — and certainly not one in the middle of the season — this is actually a mild accomplishment for Napier. Florida is 4-4 and two of those losses were a close one to Georgia and Tennessee in overtime on the road, though the latter could probably be placed directly on Napier at a couple different points. Regardless, the Gators have been much more competitive this season than they were expected to be and freshman quarterback DJ Lagway looks like a guy they definitely don't want to lose. So I guess if you don't think you can get an elite coach this offseason, just stick with Napier.

Another thing to consider is schools will be directly paying athletes more than $20 million a year starting in 2025 and Napier's buyout would have cost UF $25 million. If you're making the decision to fire him now, you have to be certain you're getting a huge upgrade. And I would imagine Florida has already made calls to the agents who would need to confirm or deny their clients' interest in the job and those answers led to the school releasing this letter now.

I bet if you got some truth serum in Sun Belt Billy, though, he's not the happiest guy in the world about having to work next year instead of getting a $25 million check to go hang out on the beach. I, however, am very happy Napier will be getting another shot in 2025. Keep Billy in Gainesville forever!