Jack Youngblood, Florida Gators legend, has Billy Napier's back
Jack Youngblood has legendary Florida Gators credentials that are beyond dispute.
All-American defensive end. All-Pro. Played in the Super Bowl with a broken leg. Florida Ring of Honor.
And, he’s one of only two former Gators in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Emmitt Smith is the other.
Youngblood took to X, the site formerly known as Twitter, Monday to offer his support for Gators coach Billy Napier. Napier, 6-8 overall as Florida coach, has taken much criticism on social media since the program’s 24-11 loss to Utah last week in Salt Lake City.
“Coach @coach_bnapier has my 110% support!!,” he wrote.
He post came in response to @FLRecruits, who wrote the following: “Do our fans really want us to pay $31 MILLION to fire Billy? I don’t get it That would be a waste of money and resources that can be used to help him instead. This narrative makes no sense This isn’t me saying he is perfect. I agree we need an OC. But firing him sets us back.”
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Jack Youngblood is an all-time Florida Gators great
Youngblood, now 73, played at Monticello (Fla.) Jefferson County High in the 1960s. He then became a star for the Gators from 1968-70 under Ray Graves and Doug Dickey.
“In 1970, Youngblood was recognized as a first-team All-American while recording 58 tackles and leading the team with 10 sacks to finish his Gator career with 29 sacks. Additionally, he was a finalist for the Outland Trophy following the 1970 season and was voted the 1970 SEC lineman of the year,” per Wikipedia.
The Rams chose Youngblood in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft and he became a star in Los Angeles. Over his lengthy career, he started 187 games and recorded 151.5 sacks. Youngblood played in the Pro Bowl seven times and was NFL All-Pro five times.
He was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Gators Ring of Honor in 2006.
Youngblood has been an active supporter of the Gators on social media. On X, he posted several times earlier this year when Florida made a run to the championship game of the College World Series.
