Gerald Chatman brings an ‘attack mentality’ as Gators D-line coach

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After three previous stints in the SEC, Gerald Chatman is back once again. This time, however, he’s a full-time assistant as the defensive line coach at Florida.

Chatman, 35, is not only excited to return to the league but comes to Gainesville with a point to prove.

“Trying to figure out the best way to explain me having this job right now,” he told Gators Online. “I got a little bit of attitude right now with this job and I think it’s getting ready to rub off on these players.

“It’s just a little bit of a different demeanor right now. I ain’t in the honeymoon phase of taking this job. I got a little chip on my shoulder. In the SEC, man, there’s gotta be an attack mentality to it.”

Chatman first worked in the SEC in 2015 as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M under the late Terry Price, who served as a mentor to him. He then went to LSU in 2021 as an analyst under former coach Ed Orgeron before becoming the D-line coach and interim defensive coordinator at Colorado.

Following the 2022 season and coaching change in Boulder, Chatman returned to LSU last January as an analyst under Brian Kelly and was elevated as interim defensive line coach for most of spring practice after Jamar Cain joined Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos staff in late March.

Kelly hired Jimmy Lindsey as his new D-line coach last May but fired him earlier this month. Chatman spent the 2023 season at Tulane, where he helped the Green Wave rank in the top 25 nationally in turnovers gained (tied 4th), rush defense (18th), sacks (21st) and tackles for loss (24th).

After short stints at his previous SEC schools, Chatman is looking to call UF home for the next decade.

“I’m excited for the opportunity at Florida,” he said. “I think an attack approach to the defensive line job for the Florida Gators is dangerous. That’s how I view it, especially coaching the defensive line and recruiting at this position. You gotta be ready to go toe to toe with the top teams in the country.

“I ran to that challenge. I want to line up against the best lines in the country and go to toe to toe. Let’s go. Otherwise, what are we doing it for? So, I’m gonna fight like I’m gonna be here for 10 years and have the best defensive linemen to ever come up out of here. That’s my mindset. My mindset is big right now.”

Chatman has already made an impact on the recruiting trail, helping the Gators land four-star defensive lineman D’antre Robinson last Friday. Chatman had a relationship with Robinson from his time as the interim defensive line coach at LSU.

In addition to his SEC experience, Chatman has worked with three NFL teams. After coaching internships with the Green Bay Packers (2015) and Denver Broncos (2016), he spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals as a defensive assistant, where he worked primarily with the team’s defensive ends and outside linebackers.

While with the Bengals, he coached former Gator Carlos Dunlap, who had high praise for Chatman last month after he was hired by UF.

“Coach ‘G’ Chatman is definitely one of the most influential coaches I’d say impacted my career as an NFL player when he was an assistant coach. But as the defensive line coach at Florida now, I’m even more excited for him,” said Dunlap, who added that Chatman is committed to bringing out the best in his players.

In addition to Dunlap, Chatman worked with a talented defensive line group in Cincinnati that included Geno Atkins, Mike Daniels, Sam Hubbard, Carl Lawson and Josh Tupou. Most notably, Chatman helped Hubbard earn a four-year, $40 million contract extension.

“To me, recruiting D-lineman is this: it’s getting the best players in the country at this position, teaching and developing them, and then having them go play at the highest level. And there has to be a continuation with that cycle. That’s part of what I want to do here at Florida,” Chatman said. “Prepare guys to not only make it to the next level, but to have longevity and have success at the next level and make it to a second contract. I’ve been able to see that with guys like Sam Hubbard. But at this level, it starts with getting them out of high school and that whole recruiting cycle.

“I tell recruits, I don’t care if you’re a five star or how many sacks you got in high school. Guess what? I’m gonna find something that you can do better and maximize your game. Being around somebody like Carlos Dunlap is a prime example. This dude was a 10-year vet, it’s my first job coaching in the NFL, and I’ve got to make him get better. So, it’s about leadership and figuring out what tools I can give him to help them perform at a higher level. That’s what it ultimately comes down to. And so for me, if I can do it with guys like that, I can do that at Florida with the top defensive linemen in the country.”

Chatman inherits a defensive line room that brings back starting nose tackle Cam Jackson — who returned for his senior season instead of turning pro — and starting strongside defensive end Caleb Banks along with backups Desmond Watson and Jamari Lyons.

The Gators signed Joey Slackman, the No. 2-ranked defensive tackle transfer in the On3 Industry rankings, along with Robinson and three-star DT Michai Boireau. Two EDGE players, Kelby Collins and JUCO signee Brien Taylor, could also play strongside DE in 2024.

“I think there’s so much potential in this defensive line room,” Chatman said. “I almost don’t wanna say it because I almost don’t want people to even know. Like, I’m serious. I want people not to know. I just think that there is a fitting opportunity for me to teach, develop and mentor the guys on this current roster in this room.

“And that was to me the big reason for taking this opportunity, and then the challenge that’s ahead. Just seeing the guys like Caleb Banks, Cam Jackson, Desmond Watson and Jamari Lyons, there’s a room full of guys and there’s a lot of potential. It just needs to be maximized so they can play at a high level every week.”