Danny Wuerffel sends heartfelt ‘thank you’ message to Billy Napier following firing
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Danny Wuerffel is a hero in the Florida Gators‘ football lore. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1996 and took the Gators to their first-ever national championship the same year. He never faced the level of criticism that Billy Napier dealt with during his Florida tenure before being relieved of his duties. Despite this, he didn’t fail to show compassion in wake of Napier’s exit.
Wuerffel took to social media on Sunday afternoon in the aftermath of Napier’s firing. He thanked Napier for his “relentless effort” and praised him for carrying himself with “the highest integrity.”
Napier wrapped up his Gators career with a 22-23 record. Florida had just 1 winning season (2024) in his tenure.
The Gators entered the 2025 campaign with high expectations, earning the No. 13 rank in the initial AP poll. Florida was outside the top 25 by Week 3, though, because of a home loss to South Florida. The Gators faced 4 consecutive top 10 opponents over the next 4 weeks and beat No. 9 Texas 29-21 to open October, but that victory alone was not enough for him to keep his job.
Florida’s first game without Napier comes versus Georgia in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. The Bulldogs are 7-point favorites according to the latest college football betting odds.
Kickoff from Jacksonville at 3:30 p.m. E.T. on Nov. 1 (ABC).
