Billy Napier’s Contract Buyout is Going Viral After Losing in Week 1

Billy Napier did not have the ideal start to begin his third season as head coach of the Florida Gators. As a result, his contract buyout is circulating on social media because fans believe he's on the hot seat to be fired.

Napier's first two seasons weren't up to par with the University of Florida's standards, which include winning national championships in all sports, especially football. In 2022, the Gators had a 6-7 record, and in 2023, they finished 5-7.

Napier had promised that the results would look different this time around, but the Week 1 matchup with Florida's in-state rival, Miami, invalidates that claim.

The Hurricanes decimated the Gators in the Swamp, 41-17. In a game that was crucial for both programs in order to elevate their recruiting efforts in the state of Florida, it was all Miami from the get-go.

Mario Cristobal's team dominated one aspect of the game in particular: the trenches. The offensive line gave quarterback Cam Ward all the time in the world, allowing him to throw for 385 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.

Florida's loss snapped its 34-game home opener win streak, the longest in the nation.

Social media did some digging and discovered what it would take for Florida to fire him this season:

"Billy Napier's buyout is 85% of his remaining contract. He's owed $26m+," Brooks Austin said in a post that's been reposted 787 times and has received over 750,000 impressions at the time of writing.

In 2021, Napier signed a seven-year, $51.8M contract, which makes him the 17th highest-paid college football coach in the country.

Aaron Torres of Fox Sports Radio wrote, "The bad news for Florida- Billy Napier's buyout is $26 million. The worse news - Even if you have the money, Scott Stricklin, who has hired the last two football coaches would in thoery be hiring the next one as well."

Scott Stricklin, Florida's athletic director, was hired in 2016 and has made two football hires for the school: Dan Mullen and Billy Napier.

Both coaches, along with Will Muschamp and Jim McElwain, haven't been able to replicate the school's success that Urban Meyer brought, winning national titles in 2006 and 2008.

Although the Gators are expected to bring their record back to .500 with a win over Samford next week, September 7, the remainder of the schedule appears daunting.

They will play seven more teams ranked in the preseason AP Poll. Here's what lies ahead:

• vs. Samford
• vs. No. 20 Texas A&M
• @ Mississippi State
• Bye
• vs. UCF
• @ No. 15 Tennessee
• vs. Kentucky
• Bye
• @ No. 1 Georgia (Jacksonville, FL)
• @ No. 4 Texas
• vs. No. 13 LSU
• vs. No. 6 Ole Miss
• @ NO. 10 Florida State

Related: Florida Fans Rip QB Graham Mertz For Tarnishing Tim Tebow's Legacy in Blowout