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Florida’s Gainsville — Darnell Stapleton, the offensive line coach at Florida, will join the Washington Commanders as an assistant offensive line coach, the organization announced on its official website on Thursday.

Stapleton will report to Dan Quinn, the new head coach of Washington, who was Florida’s defensive coordinator from 2011 to 2012, along with Bobby Johnson, the Commanders’ new primary offensive line coach.

Due to Stapleton’s departure from Gainesville, Florida’s on-field coaching staff now has one unfilled slot. Right now, it’s unclear how UF plans to go with filling the position.

Similar to the one Stapleton will take on in Washington, the vacant post was a second coaching post to manage Florida’s offensive line, which is primarily under the direction of Rob Sale, who also has the title of offensive coordinator for the Gators.
But Florida’s offensive playcaller is head coach Billy Napier.

Stapleton was one of the first coaches Napier hired for his Florida staff, working alongside Sale for two years. The two gave the Gators’ offensive line a new lease on life in 2022, as they allowed just 17 sacks and cleared the path for 5.5 yards per team rush in their first game.

In 2023, though, UF’s offensive line suffered a severe setback at the hands of Sale and Stapleton. Following the departure of Florida’s guard O’Cyrus Torrence and tackle Richard Gouraige to the NFL, along with other key players via the NCAA transfer portal, the team gave up 39 sacks and assisted rushers in gaining 4.3 yards per attempt.

On February 7, Napier was specifically questioned regarding the contract situation of Stapleton, Sale, UF running backs coach Jabbar Juluke, and edge rushers coach Mike Peterson. Additionally, Napier was asked if the four assistant coaches will be returning to the program for the 2024 campaign.

Each coach’s initial contract was supposed to end on January 31st.

Napier answered, “Yeah, absolutely,” implying that every assistant had consented to and/or executed a contract extension with UF. “As we speak here, we’re in the process of that right.”

Nevertheless, Napier hinted at the time that modifications to Florida’s coaching staff and offensive scheme would be possible, including the addition of coaches or analysts.