Phil Trautwein blocked for Tim Tebow and paved the way for a pair of Florida national championships as a player. As a coach, he has mentored multiple first-round NFL Draft selections on the offensive line.
Few have the CV to match what Trautwein has done throughout his football career. So, it was no surprise to see new Florida head coach Jon Sumrall target the Penn State assistant for his staff.
According to multiple reports, Trautwein is nearing an agreement to join Sumrall in Gainesville as the Gators’ new offensive line coach. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was first to report the news on Friday.
Trautwein, 39, has spent the last 6 seasons at Penn State coaching offensive linemen. Before that, he was Boston College’s line coach from 2018-19. Over those 8 seasons, he has coached 39 combined all-conference selections on the offensive line.
Three of his players have gone on to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. A fourth, Olaivavega Ioane, could hear his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft’s first round next spring.
As a player, Trautwein spent 5 years at Florida. He was a 2-time national champion, a second-team All-SEC selection in 2006, and a first-team All-SEC pick in 2008. He started 29 times for the Gators before moving to the NFL.
Trautwein spent parts of 4 seasons in the NFL before retiring in 2012 and moving into coaching.
Seven former Penn State offensive linemen who played for Trautwein have been drafted into the NFL. Trautwein has also recruited multiple 5-star prospects to Happy Valley.
Trautwein said back in August he didn’t see himself leaving Penn State for “any other college football job,” but the midseason dismissal of head coach James Franklin forced him to re-evaluate.
Now, he’s set for a homecoming.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
