The Florida football program has struggled since Dan Mullen’s penultimate season in Gainesville. After an 8-4 campaign in 2020, Mullen was fired just 11 games into the following season, with Florida holding a 5-6 record. The Gators have gone three years without a winning season since the Mullen era. Despite challenges with offensive production, defensive efforts, and difficulty performing in high-profile games, the SEC program was home to quarterback Anthony Richardson from 2020 to 2022 before he left for the NFL and was eventually drafted as the fourth overall pick.
Richardson spent two seasons playing under Mullen before becoming the starting quarterback under current head coach Billy Napier in 2022. However, in a recent interview, Richardson nearly left Florida before the ultimate demise of Mullen. More shockingly, Richardson shared that regardless of his draft status, the dual-threat passer planned to leave Florida following his third season with the program. Naturally, Gator fans were none too pleased with Richardson’s lack of allegiance to the program, taking aim at the signal-caller on social media heading into the weekend.
Florida Football Fans: Share Displeasure with Anthony Richardson
Earlier this week, a resurfaced podcast clip of former Florida football quarterback Anthony Richardson went viral. In a discussion shared by NFL Digest on Twitter and TikTok, Richardson voiced his dissatisfaction with former head coach Dan Mullen’s management of his usage. Richardson claimed poor oversight and multiple injuries led to Richardson wanting to leave Florida after just his second season. However, the Florida native stayed with the program after transitioning to head coach Billy Napier. Nevertheless, Richardson’s love for the program was nonexistent following the 2022 season, with the passer ready to leave Gainesville, Florida, for the draft or the transfer portal.
Florida football fans are irate with Richardson’s choice of words for the program, especially with the school faltering with him at the helm. The Gator faithful took to Twitter (also known as X), voicing their disdain for Richardson’s latest comments.
Idk where he was going to go but bro played horrible for Florida lmao he got drafted off of measurements
— Dillon Daniel (@OfficialDDaniel) August 6, 2024
UF did a lot for Anthony, even though he was always hurt and he didn’t perform well when he was healthy. The fans and school stuck by him. It’s disappointing to see him somehow blame the people who were trying to help him.
— Gator Michael (@gator_michael1) August 6, 2024
I’ll never forgive Dan Mullen for how he handled AR bruh https://t.co/BfOL4q63h3
— Phil ✊🏾✊🏾 (@Black_Madara7) August 5, 2024
Fire Napier immediately https://t.co/FOqDicJIMk pic.twitter.com/6RadxJt3Ul
— 🏀🎙Kyle🎙🏀 (@KyleWoodward15) August 5, 2024
Tells you all you need to know………. https://t.co/LNzV1K0kqd
— T (@tdgator9) August 5, 2024
Ppl wonder why we hate Dan https://t.co/IoNdU4jAKm
— Willy Wapier (@TheFoodGator) August 6, 2024
Richardson: Unpleased with Florida Football
Anthony Richardson will enter his second NFL season with the Indianapolis Colts next fall. Richardson missed the majority of his rookie season in 2023 after undergoing shoulder surgery. Despite struggling with fumbles, Richardson played well as a passer, throwing for 577 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in seven games. Richardson, who played collegiately at Florida, might have ended up on a different pro team if he had gone to a different school before committing to the 2023 NFL Draft. In a resurfaced podcast clip, Richardson shares that he nearly left Florida twice during college.
“I started pulling my hammies. Never pulled my hammies before. I’m like, ‘Bro, what’s going on?’ They messed around and threw me out there to start against Georgia. The number one defense in the country, statistically, everywhere. Left that game early with a concussion. I then messed my knee up and had to have surgery at the end of the season.”
“So, in my third year, we got a new coaching staff. I told them (Florida), I said, ‘Let’s see how this spring goes, but if it ain’t it, I’m out of here.’ They were like, ‘Alright, we understand,’ because I was going to have to learn a new offense, and I’m coming off of knee surgery. I might not be able to run the same. I stuck with it. Finally, at the end of that year, I already knew I wasn’t going to be at Florida again. Whether I did declare or not, I wasn’t going to be there again.”
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