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Former Florida head coach Dan Mullen trolled his old employer on a disappointing National Signing Day. Mullen posted an image of a margarita while he watched the Gators’ recruiting class tumble.
It’s the latest jab since his 2021 firing, suggesting that the program jumped the gun with its decision.
Mullen roamed the sidelines in Gainesville from 2018 to 2021, posting a 34-15 overall record. He led the Gators to a pair of Top 10 finishes and nearly upset Alabama in the 2020 SEC title game.
Struggles in 2021 would be his demise as Florida finished the year 6-7 and he was let go before a rivalry matchup against Florida State.
While the on-field results were certainly part of the decision, off-field narratives fueled a Florida mob that pushed to see him fired.
There was an overwhelming belief that Mullen didn’t want to recruit and would jump at the first available NFL job, though many within the fanbase would probably welcome him back given what’s transpired since his departure.
Billy Napier has posted back-to-back losing seasons, going 11-14 in his first two years at the helm.
Hired to pick up the slack in the recruiting department, his results thus far have been lacking. In fact, when lined up next to Mullen’s, his resume doesn’t stack up.
Sometimes, a picture says it all. pic.twitter.com/sB3Cth7Gss
— Marc Ryan (@MarcRyanOnAir) December 20, 2023
Mullen landed two Top 10 classes while Napier has yet to finish higher than 13th. The 2024 cycle has been particularly disappointing as fans have watched a group once rated No. 3 in the nation tumble outside of the Top 15 in a matter of weeks.
Florida has seen nine(!) players decommit since mid-November, including five-star prospect Xavier Filsaime.
Is the school having buyer’s remorse?
Mullen did his best to troll the Gators on Signing Day upon seeing the slip.
He posted an image of a margarita on his X timeline as he sits back and relaxes while the program attempts to put out the fire.
— Dan Mullen (@CoachDanMullen) December 20, 2023
Mullen is always quick to take a dig at the Gators as he appears to enjoy watching their downfall. He made the comment this past season that Florida “might not be where they were a couple of years ago,” while holding back a smile.
He was also seen liking negative tweets about the program which showed his record in Gainesville side-by-side with Napier’s.
For now, Mullen is enjoying his time away from the sidelines as he thrives in a television analyst role. He has left the door open a return to the SEC, though Florida probably wouldn’t be his first choice.