Skip to main content
florida logo

Florida Gators promoting Russ Callaway to offensive coordinator

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•02/20/25•

ZachAbolverdi

Russ-Callaway-Florida-Gators
Florida Offensive Coordinator Russ Callaway runs a drill during practice. The Florida Gators held their second Spring football practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, March 9, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Russ Callaway, who is entering his fourth season at Florida, is finalizing a deal to become offensive coordinator, Gators Online has learned. The contract has not yet been signed; once it is, Callaway will receive a pay raise.

This is the third promotion for Callaway in as many years. He was elevated to co-offensive coordinator last offseason. Rob Sale, who coaches the Florida offensive line, had the OC title in 2022 and 2023.

Florida coach Billy Napier plans to continue calling plays on offense (story HERE), but Callaway is expected to have an expanded role in 2025 after impressing Napier last year when he took on more responsibilities as Co-OC.

“I thought Russ did an exceptional job last year in a leadership role, you know, running the unit meetings,” Napier said on signing day. “It’s been huge — from an organizational standpoint, installation, scripting, input on the game plan. He was in every one of those meetings.”

The Gators went 8-5 last season and finished 66th nationally in total offense (386.9 yards) while facing one of the country’s most difficult schedules, closing out the year with a four-game winning streak.

Russ Callaway background

Callaway joined the Florida program in 2022 as an analyst but was promoted to tight ends coach in 2023. Last season, he continued to coach tight ends but also worked some with the quarterbacks.

Before arriving at Florida with Napier, Callaway worked with the New York Giants (2021), Alabama (2011–2012), LSU (2020) and Samford (2015-19). He was Samford’s offensive coordinator his last four years.

Callaway started signaling in calls from the sideline during the 2023 season (prior to in-helmet communication). That experience helped him get a feel for Napier’s system and how he likes to call plays.

“Absolutely,” he said. “In what we do, that’s a big, important piece — communication. Because you’re talking to the quarterback, you’re talking to the tight end, the running back. It is a good way to kind of pick up the offense and learn the intricacies of the alignments, assignments, from the whole 11. So, it was a good opportunity to do that. It kind of prepared me for this upcoming year and what we got going on. So, I was grateful.”

Not a member of Gators Online?

CLICK HERE to join the Gators Online community! It’s the top place for passionate Florida fans to find the best insight and news in the market. 

Boasting a talented collection of experienced journalists, we dig deep into recruiting and provide breaking news and analysis on UF sports.

You may also like