Florida Gators

Russ Callaway enters his fourth season with the Gators, his third as the tight ends coach after joining the staff in 2022 in an off-the-field role and first season as offensive coordinator after serving as a co-offensive coordinator in 2024.

In 2024, Callaway helped guide Florida to a late-season charge, winning the last four games of the season to finish with an 8-5 record overall, with victories over No. 21 LSU, No. 9 Ole Miss, Florida State and Tulane in the 16^th Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. The Gators were one of just six unranked teams in the nation to post multiple top-25 wins on the year.
 
The tight end group combined for 44 receptions for 444 yards and five touchdowns on the season, while also helping block for freshman All-American quarterback DJ Lagway, helping the Gators rank ninth in the nation in passing yards per completion at 14.11.

In 2023, he worked with a pair of redshirt-freshmen tight ends in Arlis Boardingham (4) and Hayden Hansen (2), who combined for six touchdown receptions. Boardingham led all SEC freshman (true + redshirt) tight ends in receptions (26), receiving yards (289) and touchdowns (4). 
 
An experienced coach at the collegiate and NFL levels, Callaway arrived in Gainesville after spending the 2021 season with the New York Giants, serving as an offensive assistant, and the 2020 season as a senior offensive assistant and analyst at LSU. His resume also includes stints at Alabama and Samford.
 
He spent five seasons at Samford where he served as the Bulldogs' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2016-19, while also coaching the wide receivers from 2015-17.
 
As a unit in 2018, Samford's offense led the FCS in passing yards per game (392.7). The offense also ranked fourth in the FCS in total offense (515.9 ypg.), and eighth in both red zone offense (.898) and in first downs (298). Meanwhile in 2017, the Bulldogs' offense led the SoCon and ranked fifth in the FCS in passing yards per game (33.4 ypg.). 
 
In 2016, Callaway's offense ranked third among all FCS schools in passing offense, averaging 349.4 passing yards per game. They also ranked sixth in the FCS in red zone offense (90.2%), 11th in team passing efficiency (155.24), 12th in scoring offense (35.1 ppg.) and 14th in total offense (446.2 ypg.).
 
During his time with Samford, Callaway mentored quarterback Devlin Hodges, who earned the Walter Payton Award for the top offensive player in all of FCS football in 2018. Hodges passed for an FCS-record 14,584, breaking the old record set by Steve McNair.
 
Prior to Samford, Callaway spent two seasons on staff at Murray State, where he worked with the wide receivers, while also serving as the recruiting coordinator.
   
Callaway joined the Racers after winning back-to-back BCS National Championships as a defensive analyst on Nick Saban's staff at Alabama. In his role at UA, Callaway assisted defensive coordinator Kirby Smart with the inside linebackers.
 
He played collegiately as a quarterback at Valdosta State, where he was a two-time team captain. He joined the Blazers in 2007, helping the team to the school's second National Championship.
 
Callaway graduated from VSU in 2010 with a degree in business management.
 
He and his wife, Taylor, and have one daughter, Maris Faye Callaway, and one son, Samuel Ingram Callaway.
 
Callaway is the son of veteran coach Neil Callaway.

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RUSS CALLAWAY COACHING HISTORY
Year	School, Position
2024	Florida, Co-Offensive Coordinator / Tight Ends
2023	Florida, Tight Ends
2022	Florida, Defensive Intern
2021	New York Giants, Offensive Assistant
2020	LSU, Senior Offensive Assistant and Analyst
2018-19	Samford, Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
2016-17	Samford, Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks / WR
2015	Samford, Wide Receivers / Pass Game Coordinator
2014-13	Murray State, Wide Receivers / Recruiting Coordinator
2011-12	Alabama, Defensive Analyst

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NFL PLAYERS DRAFTED UNDER CALLAWAY
Year	Rnd	Player	Pos	Team	College
2025	4	Chimere Dike	WR	Tennessee Titans	Florida
2025	6	Graham Mertz	QB	Houston Texans	Florida
2022	5	Montrell Washington	WR	Denver Broncos	Samford
2019	FA	Delvin Hodges	QB	Pittsburgh Steelers	Samford
2019	FA	Kelvin McKnight	WR	Denver Broncos	Samford
2014	6	Walt Powell	WR	Arizonal Cardinals	Murray State