Ever since Billy Napier got fired, Lane Kiffin’s name has been rumored as the Gators’ target. Kiffin addressed the rumors after the Oklahoma game and said that he is going to address the Florida rumors with his players. The fans in the OU Stadium also did the Gator Chomp at Lane. As rumors surround Kiffin, and most believe that Kiffin could bring success to Florida, NFL legends say nah! They believe Lane Kiffin can’t change anything for LSU or Florida until the programs make this crucial change.

On the latest episode of Nightcap, NFL Legends Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson addressed Lane Kiffin’s Florida Gators rumors. “Lane Kiffin, there have been rumblings that he might go to Florida.” Shannon Sharpe said. “Florida’s going to try to throw the bag cuz they got look, when you’re one of these schools, and you’re trying to land a coach and you’re in one of these prominent schools, Florida, Penn State.”

Chad Johnson said that neither Penn State, nor Florida, nor LSU can change anything by just hiring Lane Kiffin or any other coach, as they need the right players by their side. “Unless you get certain players, the players that you need, the special, the impact players, it’s not going to work.” He said that the programs get fascinated by the recruitment of highly-rated players, but what actually matters is what they bring to the field. 

“We got all these four and five-star rankings, right?” Ocho claims, “And you look at the landscape of college football, nobody’s playing like a four or five-star rank. You know, every week you’re supposed to be popping out on tape. If you’re a star, I don’t care who you’re playing.”

Sharpe (Unc) agrees with what Ocho said and added, “That’s why you were able to get that big, that’s why you were able to get a million dollars, or you were able to get $500,000, according to your position. Because you were supposed to be that dude.” Ocho claimed that the five-star player should be worth every penny he gets paid in NIL. “There are very few of him in the entirety of college football,” Ocho claimed, and Sharpe accepts. Based on the legend’s point of view, it is clear that the coaching changes alone cannot bring them success, but they also need the right players on their side, who make an impact on the field, rather than in the ratings and NIL value.

Why Programs Target Lane Kiffin for the Coaching Role?

If you wonder why Lane Kiffin is in high demand for the new coaching role? He’s the one who brought hope to the Ole Miss program. In the five seasons, Kiffin took Ole Miss from the bottom of the SEC rankings to three double-digit seasons in 2021 (10-3), 2023 (11-2), and 2024 (10-3). 

The Rebels are also having a remarkable season so far, with a 7-1 record, and have a fair chance to enter the playoffs and even compete for the SEC championship. He currently holds a 51-19 record in just six seasons for the Rebels, and is already the school’s third-highest winning coach. 

He loves Oxford and never fails to express his love for Mississippi. However, Lane Kiffin grew up as a Florida fan, and his ex-wife and her family have ties with the University of Florida. He also idolized the former Gators’ coach Steve Spurrier. Well, that can be a dream job for Kiffin, but what he has built with Ole Miss these far is a legacy. We need to wait and watch who lands as the Florida coach as time flies.