Former Florida head coach told the program to hire Lane Kiffin after he was fired

Rumors about Lane Kiffin's departure to Florida will stop once they replace current head coach Billy Napier. The consensus is that Kiffin would stay at Ole Miss despite Florida fans campaigning for his hire. The Rebels are in a much better position in 2024, but that could have been different if they had made a move in 2021.

Former Florida head coach Dan Mullen championed for the Gators to hire Lane Kiffin after his departure. Would there have been more chance that he would have taken the job after a season as Ole Miss head coach?

Dan Mullen believes things are different now for Lane Kiffin

Dan Mullen has close ties to the Florida program, and even when he was fired in 2021, he discussed with Athletic Director Scott Stricklin candidates who could succeed him. Speaking to Zach Gelb on Infinity Sports Network, Mullen suggested Lane Kiffin may have taken the job in 2021, but he isn't sure he would now.

""Kiffin would be a great fit off the bat (in 2021), but that was several years ago. He's now gotten Ole Miss to be in playoff contention, so I don't know if that is something that will interest him or not.""

- Dan Mullen on the Zach Gelb show

Mullen said that Kiffin's offensive style, which involves scoring points and a no-huddle offense, would have made him a great fit. He would have walked in with a top-five NFL draft quarterback in Anthony Richardson, and several explosive wide receivers. Florida would arguably be in a better place right now with Kiffin in charge.

Heading into his fifth season with Ole Miss, Kiffin has the Rebels where Florida wants them to be, and it would be a huge surprise that he would give that up at this stage. However, the saga goes on with Bill Napier surviving another week, this week against another struggling SEC team, Mississippi State.