The Florida Gators almost didn't land Jon Sumrall.
The Florida Gators hired Jon Sumrall as their head coach back in late November, and things have been very different in Gainesville ever since.
Florida put together a tremendous transfer portal haul that actually ranked ninth in On 3's transfer portal rankings, and the Gators also seem to be ubiquitous on the recruiting trail.
Multiple players have also said that the atmosphere in The Swamp has changed now that Sumrall is at the helm, so clearly, Florida made a great choice.
But did the Gators almost lose out on Sumrall?
Sumrall said as much during an interview with Josh Pate, revealing that he almost declined the Florida job.
“I knew there would be opportunities ... But I didn’t think Florida was maybe going to be the right fit or the right timing, for whatever reason," Sumrall said. "As the process unfolded, the more that became clear to me what this thing looked like here, and maybe what the fit looked like for me, it really became more transparent that this is where I felt led and where I felt like I fit the best.”
Florida Gators coach Jon Sumrall. Credit: Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.Sumrall has four years of head-coaching experience, splitting his previous time between Troy and Tulane. He went 43-12 throughout that span, most recently leading Tulane to an 11-3 record and a College Football Playoff appearance.
However, the 43-year-old has never coached in a Power-4 conference before, so taking his talents to the SEC is certainly a major jump.
Sumrall is aiming to rebuild a Florida program that has fallen on very hard times in recent years.
Once one of the top football schools in the country, the Gators went just 4-8 in 2025 and have posted four losing campaigns over the last five years, representing one of the worst stretches in program history.
It won't be easy for Sumrall to get Florida back to where it used to be, but at the very least, he can take baby steps in re-establishing the Gators as a respectable opponent.
Florida certainly has a talented roster heading into 2026. Whether or not it materializes on the field remains to be seen.
The Gators will open up against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 5.
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