Steve Spurrier laughs off fake claims his health is declining

Throughout his legendary three-decade head coaching career, Steve Spurrier has heard and even been apart of multiple coaching rumors — some true, most not. But none caused as much of a stir in his personal life as a recent erroneous report suggesting the 80-year-old was near death’s door.

Spurrier spoke out about the fake report of his “failing health” during a discussion with former Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley about some of the wild online rumors permeating this year’s already crazy coaching carousel. Dooley opened by recalling a recent conversation with Urban Meyer in which the former Ohio State and Florida coach bemoaned a social media rumor connecting him to the Penn State opening. Dooley then brought up another rumor suggesting Spurrier was helping the Gators hire coveted Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, the hottest candidate on the carousel and Florida’s reported No. 1 target.

In response, Spurrier gave that rumor the same treatment he afforded the speculation about his pending passing.

“Well somebody put on the internet that I was going to die in about a year or something – ‘failing health’ (laughs) – and I had a bunch of my buddies and friends calling, ‘Are you alright, Coach? Are you in the hospital?’ I said, ‘No, I’m fine.’ That’s what do you call it, artificial information, AI, or false information, lies,” Spurrier said on Monday’s Another Dooley Noted Podcast with host Pat Dooley.

“Yeah, it’s easy to just put out anything you want to, and I guess the average person believes it. I mean, we’ve got politicians that have been doing for years now, just put it out there and half the people will believe you. But, naw, I know Lane Kiffin, I know Eli Drinkwitz, obviously either one of those guys would be super if it works out. But it’s a long way from whoever we’re going to get as a coach, in my opinion right now.”

Kiffin’s family reportedly traveled to Gainesville on Sunday, according On3 insiders Pete Nakos, Brett McMurphy and Chris Low, one day after leading his Rebels to a 34-24 win over the Gators on Saturday.

Kiffin has been at Ole Miss since 2020, leading the Rebels to a 54-19 record in that span. The Rebels (10-1, 6-1 SEC) notched their fourth 10-win season — and third straight — under Kiffin with their victory Saturday night, and look well on their way to notching the program’s first-ever College Football Playoff bid.

Of course, as rumors continue to swirl about Florida’s next head coach, the Head Ball Coach wants it known he’ll be around to experience everything that comes next for the Gators.