Gerald Chatman signs contract extension with Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida defensive line coach Gerald Chatman signed a contract extension in January, UF coach Billy Napier announced on Wednesday.
Chatman is in his second year with the Gators after being hired in December 2023.
Under Chatman’s guidance last season, Florida’s defensive line helped the unit ranked No. 9 nationally in red zone defense (.725), No. 11 in sacks per game (3.0), No. 11 in fumbles recovered (11) and No. 13 in turnovers gained (25).
The defense improved from 2023 to 2024 in sacks (+17), tackles for loss (+28), forced fumbles (+11) and turnovers gained (+18). Chatman came to UF after stints with the Cincinnati Bengals, Colorado, LSU and most recently Tulane.
“We just signed Gerald to a new deal just a couple weeks ago,” Napier said on Wednesday.
The news comes after Chatman interviewed last week with the Chicago Bears for the team’s vacant defensive line opening under new head coach Ben Johnson.
“Gerald interviewed for the Bears job,” Napier said. “Look, I always encourage our guys if they get a chance to interview to interview. Some may think I’m crazy, but I just think it’s just good for him from an experience perspective.”
The Bears reportedly are hiring Jacksonville Jaguars assistant Jeremy Garrett as their DL coach.
Chatman could be in the mix for other NFL jobs moving forward, and Florida secondary coach Will Harris, the former assistant secondary coach with the Los Angeles Chargers, is another potential candidate for openings in the league.
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That’s not a bad thing according to Napier, who was asked Wednesday if Chatman and Harris are locked in with UF for 2025.
“I think it’s a good thing when the NFL is trying to get your assistant coaches. I think that gives you a little credibility,” Napier said. “Look, we’ve lost four or five around here to the NFL before. So, I just think, to me, it’s just like players to some degree. You’re going to have attrition; we made a move a year ago in that room and Gerald came in and did a phenomenal job.
“Chat is well deserved. I think he’s an exceptional coach.”
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