Florida to hire Jon Sumrall as head football coach, report says

The Florida Gators reportedly decided to hire Tulane Green Wave football coach Jon Sumrall as their next head coach on Sunday.

Sumrall will join the Gators program on a six-year contract worth about $7.5 million per year, ESPN reported. The deal reportedly includes incentives for Sumrall should he lead the Gators to the College Football Playoff. Florida has never made the CFP and hasn’t won a national championship since 2008 under Urban Meyer.

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Sumrall was the Green Wave head coach in 2024 and 2025. He was 9-5 in his first season and 10-2 in his second season. He replaced Willie Fritz, who left the program after the 2023 season to take the Houston Cougars job. Tulane didn’t seem to miss a beat under Sumrall as its 10-win season this year was the third time the school reached the mark in four years.

He will take over a Florida team that has been eager to return to its past glory. The school was previously rumored to be in the running for Lane Kiffin, but it appeared Kiffin was choosing between staying at Ole Miss or taking the LSU Tigers job.

Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall, center, encourages his players before an NCAA college football game against Charlotte in New Orleans, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

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Florida fired Billy Napier after seven games. He was with the Gators since the 2022 season after replacing Dan Mullen at the helm.

The Gators have been to two bowls in the last four seasons.

Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall, center, celebrates at the end of an NCAA college football game against Charlotte with his family and players in New Orleans, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

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Florida finished 4-8 on the year and 2-6 against SEC opponents. The Gators’ four wins were their fewest since the 2017 season under Jim McElwain and interim coach Randy Shannon.