Florida promotes Russ Callaway to offensive coordinator

Billy Napier is shaking up his Florida coaching staff. The Gators have promoted co-offensive coordinator Russ Callaway to the offensive coordinator role, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Callaway was serving as the co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach alongside fellow co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Rob Sale.

Russ Callaway is entering his fourth season at Florida in 2025 and has seen his role increase every year. He was hired to an off-the-field role in 2022, before being promoted to tight ends coach ahead of the 2023 season. The 2024 season was his first as a co-offensive coordinator and now he has received another promotion.

Callaway helped Florida to a surprising 8-5 season in 2024, despite the Gators facing one of the toughest schedules in the country.

Florida won its final four games of the year, securing ranked wins over Ole Miss and LSU in the process.

Callaway also has experience in the NFL as he was an offensive assistant with the New York Giants in 2021. He also previously worked as an analyst at LSU and Alabama.

The Gators have a chance to have an excellent offense in 2025, with quarterback DJ Lagway leading the way. The former five-star recruit was impressive during his first season at Florida, throwing for more than 1,900 yards and 12 touchdowns in limited playing time as a true freshman.

As for Rob Sale, he also was on staff with the New York Giants in 2021, before coming over to Florida. Sale served as the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 2022-24. He previously worked with Billy Napier at Louisiana from 2018-20.

Billy Napier publicly addresses adding Vinnie Sunseri as Florida co-defensive coordinator

Elsewhere with the Florida coaching staff, the Gators made their hire of Vinnie Sunseri official recently.

Sunseri will serve as the team’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, according to a press release. He’ll give Florida some strong pedigree on the coaching staff.

A former two-time national champion with Alabama as a player from 2011-12, Sunseri most recently served as the safeties coach at Washington in 2024. He had spent the previous four years on staff with the New England Patriots.

“Vinnie Sunseri has a great pedigree coming from a football family and has also played and coached for exceptional coaches throughout his career,” head coach Billy Napier said in a press release. “He is a two-time national champion with NFL and collegiate experience. Vinnie will help our organization improve as we continue to build. I’m excited to welcome he and his wife, Kaci, to Gainesville.”