New Gators general manager Dave Caldwell talks to reporters on Monday after head coach Jon Sumrall's introductory press conference. (Photo: Scott Carter/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Caldwell Prepared To Help Sumrall, Gators Chart Future Route
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Following new Gators head coach Jon Sumrall's introductory press conference Monday afternoon, several media scrums popped up around the large meeting room.
Former Gators coaches Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer held court, as did UF Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel. Nearby, Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin was surrounded by reporters interested to learn more about his decision to pluck the 43-year-old Sumrall from Tulane.
Meanwhile, a familiar face in an unfamiliar position also garnered attention.
Dave Caldwell, best known for his time as general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars and 29 years in the NFL, discussed a job he said he officially began at 10 a.m. on Monday. Florida hired the 51-year-old Caldwell as general manager after he served as Philadelphia's senior personnel director/advisor to general manager Howie Roseman since 2022. Roseman is a UF graduate and longtime executive with the Eagles.
"It was a tough decision. I was so fortunate to be with the Philadelphia Eagles. They have a first-class owner, best GM in sports,'' Caldwell said. "But when I got to meet Coach Sumrall, I left my job in Philadelphia because I believe so much in Coach Sumrall. When I met him, and I met the vision that Scott has for this role and where college athletics is going, it was a tough decision, but I was excited for the opportunity."
Caldwell's role is to oversee roster and contract management, recruiting, the personnel department, football operations and the GatorMade program. He will work closely with Sumrall to create the blueprint for the program's recruiting strategy, roster retention and strategic planning, as the college game increasingly mirrors the NFL.
He arrived during a crucial week with the Early National Signing Day on Wednesday, and the transfer portal set to open a month from Tuesday.
"From what I've learned, it's really a support system, and it's there to serve the coaches and players to make sure they have all the tools necessary,'' Caldwell said.
Meyer said he is not familiar enough with Florida's long-term plan to provide notable insight, but he remains in close contact with Ohio State coach Ryan Day and said the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes have set the standard in the NIL era of college football.
"I think they've got the secret sauce,'' Meyer said. "I think Florida should do the same."
Caldwell is eager to open a new chapter in a front-office career that began in 1996, when he joined the Carolina Panthers' scouting department. He was Jacksonville's general manager from 2013-20, and the 2017 Jaguars advanced to the AFC Championship Game.
"It didn't end the way I wanted,'' Caldwell said.
He rebooted his career in Philadelphia with Roseman.
"Howie has been a big mentor these last five years,'' he said. "It was eye-opening. I grew up in an era where I learned how to evaluate subjectively, through your eyes. [Former NFL executives] Bill Polian was a great mentor of mine, and Dom Anile. They taught me how to evaluate players. And Howie puts together great analytics and some of the subjective data, and how they had everything together, and the process he puts together to make sure you get the best players for your team."
While Caldwell's job is wide-ranging with the Gators, at the heart of the role is player evaluation, and scouting high school players is a different task than scouting college or NFL players. Do the players have the competitive nature needed to move up to the next level? What about their football IQ and on-field instincts? And of course, character evaluation remains at the forefront in the process.
"They are not a finished product,'' he said. "You look at traits, but football is football. I always say the evaluation process is easy; it's what's behind the evaluation."
Caldwell plans to bring a mix of old-school scouting and a new-school analytical approach to help the Gators get back on track after a 29-34 stretch over the past five seasons, including a 4-8 record this season.
He has already started reviewing the roster and was asked about the importance of retaining sophomore running back Jadan Baugh, who became Florida's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2015 on Saturday with a 266-yard outing in a 40-21 win over Florida State to close the regular season.
Caldwell sees what everyone else does.
"I'm very aware of him," Caldwell said. "It's very important. Jadan is a great player."
Former Gators coaches Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer held court, as did UF Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel. Nearby, Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin was surrounded by reporters interested to learn more about his decision to pluck the 43-year-old Sumrall from Tulane.
Meanwhile, a familiar face in an unfamiliar position also garnered attention.
Dave Caldwell, best known for his time as general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars and 29 years in the NFL, discussed a job he said he officially began at 10 a.m. on Monday. Florida hired the 51-year-old Caldwell as general manager after he served as Philadelphia's senior personnel director/advisor to general manager Howie Roseman since 2022. Roseman is a UF graduate and longtime executive with the Eagles.
"It was a tough decision. I was so fortunate to be with the Philadelphia Eagles. They have a first-class owner, best GM in sports,'' Caldwell said. "But when I got to meet Coach Sumrall, I left my job in Philadelphia because I believe so much in Coach Sumrall. When I met him, and I met the vision that Scott has for this role and where college athletics is going, it was a tough decision, but I was excited for the opportunity."
New #Gators GM Dave Caldwell said Florida will honor all of its 2026 recruiting class commitments.
— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) December 1, 2025
Caldwell's role is to oversee roster and contract management, recruiting, the personnel department, football operations and the GatorMade program. He will work closely with Sumrall to create the blueprint for the program's recruiting strategy, roster retention and strategic planning, as the college game increasingly mirrors the NFL.
He arrived during a crucial week with the Early National Signing Day on Wednesday, and the transfer portal set to open a month from Tuesday.
"From what I've learned, it's really a support system, and it's there to serve the coaches and players to make sure they have all the tools necessary,'' Caldwell said.
Meyer said he is not familiar enough with Florida's long-term plan to provide notable insight, but he remains in close contact with Ohio State coach Ryan Day and said the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes have set the standard in the NIL era of college football.
"I think they've got the secret sauce,'' Meyer said. "I think Florida should do the same."
Caldwell is eager to open a new chapter in a front-office career that began in 1996, when he joined the Carolina Panthers' scouting department. He was Jacksonville's general manager from 2013-20, and the 2017 Jaguars advanced to the AFC Championship Game.
"It didn't end the way I wanted,'' Caldwell said.
He rebooted his career in Philadelphia with Roseman.
"Howie has been a big mentor these last five years,'' he said. "It was eye-opening. I grew up in an era where I learned how to evaluate subjectively, through your eyes. [Former NFL executives] Bill Polian was a great mentor of mine, and Dom Anile. They taught me how to evaluate players. And Howie puts together great analytics and some of the subjective data, and how they had everything together, and the process he puts together to make sure you get the best players for your team."
While Caldwell's job is wide-ranging with the Gators, at the heart of the role is player evaluation, and scouting high school players is a different task than scouting college or NFL players. Do the players have the competitive nature needed to move up to the next level? What about their football IQ and on-field instincts? And of course, character evaluation remains at the forefront in the process.
"They are not a finished product,'' he said. "You look at traits, but football is football. I always say the evaluation process is easy; it's what's behind the evaluation."
Caldwell plans to bring a mix of old-school scouting and a new-school analytical approach to help the Gators get back on track after a 29-34 stretch over the past five seasons, including a 4-8 record this season.
He has already started reviewing the roster and was asked about the importance of retaining sophomore running back Jadan Baugh, who became Florida's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2015 on Saturday with a 266-yard outing in a 40-21 win over Florida State to close the regular season.
Caldwell sees what everyone else does.
"I'm very aware of him," Caldwell said. "It's very important. Jadan is a great player."
Players Mentioned
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