GAINESVILLE — Florida is expected to hire Dave Caldwell away from the Philadelphia Eagles to become the Gators’ general manager, a position the 51-year-old held with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2013 to 2020.
Caldwell’s expected hire, confirmed Sunday by the Orlando Sentinel, will bring an NFL-style structure to a rebuilding program soon to be led by new head coach Jon Sumrall from Tulane.
Caldwell will negotiate player contracts, manage the salary cap and evaluate college talent as the demands of NIL and the transfer portal have become too much for a coaching staff to manage alone.
Jake Rosenberg, the vice president of football administration with the Philadelphia Eagles under UF alum Howie Roseman, headed the GM search for UF, with Caldwell among several candidates for the position.
During Caldwell’s stint as GM in Jacksonville, the Jaguars were 37-86 but did reach the 2017 season’s AFC title game, losing to eventual Super Bowl winner New England.
Prior to his time in Jacksonville, Caldwell served teams that reached the playoffs in 13 of his 17 seasons. He worked with the Atlanta Falcons (2008-12), Indianapolis Colts (1998-2007) and Carolina Panthers (1996-97).
The Philadelphia Eagles hired Caldwell in 2021 to serve as a personnel executive under Rosenberg, who soon promoted him to senior personnel director and advisor to the general manager in 2022. The Eagles won the Super Bowl after the 2024 season.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com.