Florida Gators hire Gerald Chatman as new defensive line coach

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators will hire Gerald Chatman as their new defensive line coach. Chatman coached at Tule during the 2023 season with the Green Wave after he served the previous spring as LSU’s interim defensive line coach. He spent the 2022 season as Colorado’s defensive line coach, and was elevated to defensive coordinator under interim head coach Mike Sanford.

Chatman will replace former defensive line coach Sean Spencer, who was fired on November 27.

Chatman worked briefly at Tulane in 2022 before being hired as Colorado’s defensive line coach in March of 2022. He held the position until early October when he was elevated to defensive coordinator along with defensive line coach by interim head coach Mike Sanford.

Prior to his stints at Tulane and Colorado, Chatman served as the defensive analyst at LSU in 2021, focusing on the defensive line. In the 2022 NFL Draft, LSU saw two defensive line players drafted and one signed as a rookie free agent.

Chatman spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the National Football League’s Cincinnati Bengals as a defensive assistant, where he worked primarily with the team’s defensive ends and outside linebackers. He helped the defensive line improve significantly in quarterback sacks and rushing yards allowed those two seasons that set up Cincinnati’s run to the Super Bowl last fall, and while with the Bengals, coached former Buff defensive tackle Josh Tupou among a talented group that included Geno Atkins, Sam Hubbard, Carlos Dunlap and Carl Lawson.

He has worked with three NFL teams as a defensive coaching intern through the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship program, which takes place during summer camps. He spent the summer of 2015 as a defensive coaching intern with the Green Bay Packers, where he assisted with both the defensive line and linebacker units. He was also selected to participate in the NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy that season. He spent a portion of the 2016 NFL preseason as a defensive coaching intern with the Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos, and then in 2018, he had his first position with the Bengals, working OTA’s (organized team activities) and camp.

Prominent coaches and players on Gerald Chatman

These quotes were posted by the Tulane football account after Chatman was announced as their defensive line coach.

Former Florida Gators defensive lineman Carlos Dunlap

“I’m excited for Coach G! It was clear to me from Day 1 that he loves and is a student of the game. He is not only a great teacher, but an influential leader in the development of men, giving me advice on numerous occasions. I hope that defensive line is ready because Coach G will be.”

Ed Orgeron

“Coach Chatman is one of the top up and coming defensive line coaches in the country. He is extremely knowledgable about all phases of defensive line play and is an excellent recruiter with outstanding character. having those attributes are a must when you’re on Willie’s staff at Tulane because of the championship culture Coach Fritz has constructed there.”

Geno Atkins, former Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman

“Coach Gerald is not only a great coach but also a wonderful family man. During my time with the Cincinnati Bengals, you could tell that he really cared about the players by getting to know us on a personal level. He’s a student of the game with his film preparation and the breakdown of the plays of the opposing offense. He was always willing to go the extra mile by staying after practice to help them perfect their craft. In short, Coach Gerald is a man that’s about work and is going to push you to be great each and every day.”

BJ Ojulari, Arizona Cardinals linebacker

“Coach G is one of the best coaches out there. He’s definitely a player’s coach who will push you to achieve greatness. He’s very knowledgable