GAINESVILLE, Florida – Florida had a turbulent ending to the 2020 season, losing three consecutive games and then having an adventurous off-season as Dan MullenThe name of was connected to NFL vacancies before those vacancies were filled.
Mullen was quiet during that time, which is usually a relatively quiet time for coaches as they come out of the spotlight during the game season and start to focus on off-season changes, recruitment and whatever the next step is.
So it came as no surprise when the first question asked to Mullen during a football press conference before spring on Tuesday was how serious his interest in the NFL was.
“You know what, I didn’t speak, I didn’t interview any NFL teams this year,” said Mullen. “Most of my focus was on taking us back to Atlanta to get back to the SEC Championship game.
“There are a lot of rumors out there, but I haven’t spoken to anyone.”
Dissatisfied with Mullen’s response, a second reporter interrupted Zoom’s virtual call and pointed out that Mullen had not really answered the question, asking again if he has any interest in leaving college and going to the NFL in the future.
With Meyer Urbanocollege transition to the NFL, a similar move for Mullen has been somewhat speculated.
“I will approach it this way: I think something that is really interesting, I think a lot of people are trying to find out what the future of college football holds for us and what it will be like going forward,” Mullen said. “I love being here at the University of Florida. I think we have a great program. We have a great fan base, a great story, the opportunity to be a championship program every year. I think there are concerns about the coaches is what future of college football will be similar. “
With the name, image and likeness (NIL) reform coming up, there are many questions about additional things that can be put on the coaches’ boards. If the college game was already a drag on them with the relentless pressures to recruit and maintain a program, starting to juggle with endorsements and ensuring that everything happens within the rules could create even more headaches.
These changes are already underway, with the Florida state NIL bill set to go into effect on July 1.
Dealing with these changes is something that Mullen has already started to some extent. But that kind of thing could certainly make the NFL, where the game is much more about Xs and Os simple and recruiting is a much more simplified, very attractive free agency process.
At the very least, Mullen did not do much to completely shut down any potential NFL interest.
“I think there are a lot of uncertainties about it now, how it will form,” said Mullen of the college scene. “That may not fully answer your question. But I think it’s probably the fairest way, as people look at things and look to the future. What will college football be like in three or four years? I think there are a lot of uncertainty that we are trying to find out now to see what our future holds. “
A major point raised during the discussion of Mullen’s potential interest – mutual or not – in relation to NFL openings in the past two months was his contract. Mullen has three years left on his current deal, and many analysts theorized that the reported interest could simply be an effort by Mullen’s agent to leverage a contract renegotiation.
To that end, Mullen was asked whether only three years left on his contract could be used by rivals to negatively recruit the program.
“I don’t control that part, so I have to worry about what I control, which is preparing the team for Thursday’s training,” said Mullen. “This could be at someone else’s press conference, that would be a good question for them.”