Tag: Meyer

As time almost expires, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer looks on to the clock during the fourth quarter at TIAA Bank Field Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the San Francisco 49ers during a regular season NFL game. The 49ers defeated the Jaguars 30-10. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Jki Cp Jags 49ers 09

Urban Meyer returns to Fox’s college football pregame show

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After a forgettable 11-month stint in the NFL, former college head coach Urban Meyer is returning to one of his old gigs.

Fox announced Friday that Meyer will be back with the “Big Noon Kickoff” Saturday morning show for the 2022 college football season, joining Brady Quinn, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and host Matt Stone.

Meyer appeared on the show in 2019 and 2020 before taking the head coaching post with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars fired Meyer on Dec. 16 after a series of behavioral blunders off the field. After a last-second loss in a “Thursday Night Football” game at the Cincinnati Bengals, Meyer — who is married — didn’t fly back home with the team and was later seen on video with a woman closely dancing on him in a bar in Columbus, Ohio.

Meyer denied reports that he called his coaching staff losers and demanded they “defend” their resumes to him. On Dec. 15, the Tampa Bay Times reported that Meyer kicked former Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo in the leg during a pregame stretch in the preseason.

In a report published Dec. 15, Lambo said he responded to Meyer’s kick with “Don’t you ever f–king kick me again!” And his response was, “I’m the head ball coach, I’ll kick you whenever the f–k I want.”

The report soon led to Meyer’s firing. The Jaguars were 2-11 at the time.

Before Jacksonville, Meyer was best known as a college head coach who won three national championships, two at Florida (2006, 2008) and Ohio State (2014).

Off-the-field controversies did crop up during his college career, though, the most serious coming in 2018 when it was reported Meyer turned a blind eye to domestic violence allegations against one of his assistant coaches. Ohio State placed Meyer on administrative leave and eventually suspended him for three games.

Meyer cited personal health reasons when he retired from both Florida in 2010 and Ohio State in 2018.

He said on a podcast appearance in April that he planned to return to “Big Noon Kickoff.”

–Field Level Media

Former Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer is transitioning to the studio as a Fox Sports college football analyst. Fiesta Bowl Kickoff Luncheon Urban Meyer

Urban Meyer says he plans to return to Fox studio show

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Urban Meyer is preparing a return. Not to coaching, but to the broadcast world.

The former college head coach who badly bombed in his NFL stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, told “The Tim May Podcast” that he plans to again be part of the Fox Sports studio show.

Meyer was on the show — “Big Noon Kickoff” — in 2019 and 2020 before taking the Jaguars’ gig.

“I love Fox. I love their team and their guys,” Meyer said on the podcast this week. “There’s nothing that’s been finalized yet, but I plan on going back and doing it. I really enjoyed that.”

Meyer, 57, was fired from Jacksonville after a series of embarrassing incidents as well as poor on-field performance. The Jaguars were 2-11 when he was released, meaning Meyer lost more times in 13 NFL games than he did in seven seasons at Ohio State, where he was 83-9 from 2012-18.

Meyer won three national championships, two at Florida (2006, 2008) and one at Ohio State (2014). He owns a 187-32 record as a college head coach counting his time at Bowling Green and Utah.

Among the incidents with the Jaguars last season was the one when Meyer didn’t fly back home with the team after a last-second 24-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 30 on “Thursday Night Football.” Instead, the married Meyer was seen on video with a woman closely dancing on him in a bar in Columbus, Ohio.

In December, Meyer denied reports that he called his coaching staff losers, and he also downplayed an incident with receiver Marvin Jones in which the veteran confronted the coach. Meyer also said anyone who was leaking information would be fired.

The final nail was provided by former Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo, who told the Tampa Bay Times that Meyer kicked him in the leg during a preseason stretching workout session.

In a report published Dec. 15, Lambo said he responded to Meyer’s kick with “Don’t you ever f–king kick me again!” And his response was, “I’m the head ball coach, I’ll kick you whenever the f–k I want.”

The Jaguars fired Meyer hours after Lambo’s allegations.

Tim May is a former writer for the Columbus Dispatch who covered Meyer during his tenure as Ohio State coach.

–Field Level Media

Sep 22, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Carolina Panthers special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers part ways with three assistant coaches

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Carolina Panthers parted ways with three assistant coaches Tuesday.

Offensive line coach Pat Meyer, defensive line coach Frank Okam and special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn were let go following a 5-12 season.

Meyer, 49, joined the Panthers on head coach Matt Rhule’s first staff in 2020 following previous stints with the Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears and the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes.

Okam, 36, coached with Rhule at Baylor from 2018-19 and followed him to the NFL. He was the assistant defensive line coach and 2020 before earning a promotion for 2021.

Blackburn, 38, was a holdover from head coach Ron Rivera’s staff. He was Carolina’s assistant special teams coach from 2016-17 before becoming the coordinator in 2018.

Meyer and Okam were dismissed one day after general manager Scott Fitterer said improving line play on both sides of the ball would be a priority during the offseason.

“Our emphasis is going to be solidifying the offensive and defensive lines. We need to get big bodies,” Fitterer said Monday. “We need to get tough, gritty guys up front, so when it comes to December, we can run the ball. When it’s third-and-2, we can count on them getting push at the line of scrimmage to run the ball.”

The Panthers fired offensive coordinator Joe Brady during their bye week in early December.

–Field Level Media

Nov 7, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on the sidelines in the second half against the Denver Broncos at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Jaguars to interview Kellen Moore, Todd Bowles

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to conduct a virtual interview with Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore late next week, NFL Network reported Sunday.

Also expected to take part in a virtual interview is Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, per the report.

Former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson interviewed for the job on Thursday.

Also Sunday, CBS Sports reported that Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke is urging owner Shad Khan to bring in Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien for an interview.

The Jaguars are seeking a replacement for Urban Meyer, who was fired on Dec. 16 due to a disappointing season on the field and a series of embarrassing incidents off of it.

Bowles and O’Brien have NFL head-coaching experience.

Bowles, 58, led the New York Jets from 2015-18, ending his tenure with a 24-40 record and no playoff appearances.

O’Brien, 52, was 52-48 in six-plus seasons (2014-20) with the Houston Texans, fired in 2020 after an 0-4 start. The Texans made the playoffs four times under O’Brien, posting a 2-4 record.

Pederson, 53, reached the playoffs three times in five seasons with the Eagles and posted a 42-37-1 overall record before being fired on Jan. 11, 2021. He led the Eagles to the Super Bowl LII championship.

Moore, 33, became the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach in 2018 and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019. This season, the Cowboys have the NFL’s top offense, averaging 409.5 yards and 30.5 points per game entering Week 17.

Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and Jaguars interim coach Darrell Bevell reportedly also are under consideration.

Jacksonville (2-13) brings a seven-game losing streak into Sunday’s game at the New England Patriots (9-6).

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer against the Tennessee Titans during first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Jaguars fire Urban Meyer after allegation of kicking player

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Hours after the latest allegation of misconduct was levied against Urban Meyer, the Jacksonville Jaguars ended the head coach’s brief, controversial and unsuccessful stint, firing him Wednesday night.

Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was installed as the Jaguars’ interim head coach.

Earlier Wednesday, former Jaguars All-Pro kicker Josh Lambo alleged that Meyer kicked him in the leg while cursing him out during a preseason workout session. Meyer responded to the report by saying, “Josh’s characterization of me and this incident is completely inaccurate, and there are eyewitnesses to refute his account.”

Still, it was the latest black mark for Meyer, with reports surfacing in the past week that he got into a shouting match with wide receiver Marvin Jones after criticizing the receivers group and that he called members of his coaching staff “losers.”

This follows an incident in October when he was seen on videotape with a young woman, who wasn’t his wife, dancing close to him. A second video, released later, appeared to show him touching her bottom.

After a 20-0 loss to the Tennessee Titans dropped the Jaguars’ record to an AFC-worst 2-11 in Meyer’s first season on the job, the head coach denied calling his coaches losers, and he downplayed the incident with Jones. He said anyone who was leaking information would be fired.

Instead, it was Meyer who was fired.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement Wednesday night, “After deliberation over many weeks and a thorough analysis of the entirety of Urban’s tenure with our team, I am bitterly disappointed to arrive at the conclusion that an immediate change is imperative for everyone. I informed Urban of the change this evening. As I stated in October, regaining our trust and respect was essential. Regrettably, it did not happen. …

“In the spirit of closure and recharging our players, staff and fan base, I will not comment further until some point following the conclusion of the NFL season.”

Khan also gave a vote of confidence to general manager Trent Baalke.

The Jaguars lost more games this year than Meyer dropped in seven seasons at Ohio State, where he was 83-9 from 2012-18.

Meyer, 57, won two national championship (2006, 2008) while in charge at Florida, and he added another national title with Ohio State in 2014. He owns a 187-32 record as a college head coach counting his time at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and Ohio State, but he had never worked in the NFL before this year.

Bevell, 51, has been an offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions before landing that position under Meyer in Jacksonville this year. He was the Lions’ interim coach for the last five games of the 2020 season, leading Detroit to a 1-4 record.

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2021; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; A Chicago Bears fans shows his displeasure with the head coach Matt Nagy (not pictured) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Nagy still favored to be fired before Urban Meyer

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Despite another turbulent week in Jacksonville, Urban Meyer is not the favorite to be the first NFL head coach fired this season.

That honor belongs to Matt Nagy after Chicago let a halftime lead slip away in a 15-point loss against Green Bay on Sunday night. That dropped the Bears to 4-9 on the season, and Nagy is being offered at -150 by SportsBetting.com to be the first coach fired.

Meyer strongly refuted reports over the weekend that he has “lost” the Jaguars’ locker room after run-ins with players and coaches. With the Jaguars 2-11 after a shutout loss to Tennessee on Sunday, Meyer is being offered at +175.

He also came under fire earlier this season after remaining in Ohio instead of flying home with the team following a Week 4 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Viral videos captured Meyer at a bar with a young woman dancing close to his lap.

Thus far, Jaguars owner Shad Khan has continued to stand by Meyer, who is in his first season as an NFL coach after successful college stints at Utah, Florida and Ohio State.

The next shortest odds belong to the New York Giants’ Joe Judge at +450 and the Carolina Panthers’ Matt Rhule at +600. The 4-9 Giants are in last place in the NFC East, while the 5-8 Panthers currently occupy the basement in the NFC South.

Jacksonville has officially been eliminated from playoff contention. So, too, have the 1-11-1 Detroit Lions, 2-11 Houston Texans and 3-10 New York Jets, who each have a first-year head coach as well.

–Field Level Media

Aug 14, 2021; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer watches warmups from the tunnel before the game against the Browns at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

Urban myth? Meyer among favorites to be first NFL coach fired

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Urban Meyer’s odds of being the first NFL coach fired this season lengthened a bit after he said there is “no chance” he will leave the Jacksonville Jaguars for Southern Cal.

Meyer opened Wednesday as the +350 favorite at SportsBetting.ag to be the first coach fired but those odds soon lengthened to +450. The former Florida and Ohio State coach’s name was mentioned as a potential successor shortly after USC fired Clay Helton on Monday.

“There’s no chance. I’m here and committed to trying to build this organization,” Meyer, 57, said Wednesday.

The co-favorites in the market are now Chicago’s Matt Nagy and Minnesota’s Mike Zimmer (+400). Nagy’s odds held steady while Zimmer’s odds shortened from +450.

All three teams opened the season with losses last week.

The Jaguars will play host to the Denver Broncos in Week 2, the Bears have their home opener against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Vikings travel to the Arizona Cardinals. Nagy’s contract expires at the end of next season while Zimmer is under contract through 2023.

Next on the list is New York Giants coach Joe Judge at +900. The Giants opened with a loss to Denver and play host to Washington on Thursday night.

Denver coach Vic Fangio and Cincinnati’s Zac Taylor are being offered at +1200, while Arizona’s Kliff Kingsbury and Dallas’ Mike McCarthy are +1400.

The sportsbook is offering odds on all 32 coaches, with the longest shots to be the first fired this season being Kansas City’s Andy Reid and Tampa Bay’s Bruce Arians at +2000.

First Coach Fired Odds (SportsBetting.ag)
Matt Nagy (+400)
Mike Zimmer (+400)
Urban Meyer (+450)
Joe Judge (+900)
Vic Fangio (+1200)
Zac Taylor (+1200)
Kliff Kingsbury (+1400)
Mike McCarthy (+1400)
Frank Reich (+2000)
Dan Campbell (+2500)
Jon Gruden (+2500)
Mike Tomlin (+2500)
Mike Vrabel (+2500)
Ron Rivera (+2500)
David Culley (+2800)
Matt Rhule (+4000)
Sean Payton (+4000)
Arthur Smith (+5000)
John Harbaugh (+5000)
Matt LaFleur (+5000)
Robert Saleh (+5000)
Brian Flores (+6600)
Kyle Shanahan (+6600)
Nick Sirianni (+6600)
Pete Carroll (+6600)
Brandon Staley (+8000)
Sean McVay (+8000)
Bill Belichick (+10000)
Kevin Stefanski (+10000)
Sean McDermott (+10000)
Andy Reid (+20000)
Bruce Arians (+20000)

–Field Level Media

Sep 12, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer reacts during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Urban Meyer on USC opening: ‘No chance’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Taking over the Jacksonville Jaguars will not spare Urban Meyer from being connected to college football coaching rumors.

In his first press conference since Southern Cal fired head coach Clay Helton to create the prominent vacancy, Meyer was asked if he was a candidate to coach the Trojans.

“There’s no chance. I’m here and committed to trying to build this organization,” Meyer, 57, said Wednesday.

The Jaguars are 0-1 and preparing to play the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Meyer is one of several coaches with other jobs loosely linked to the USC job. On Tuesday, Penn State coach James Franklin said he took time before practice to meet with the team and talk through his position on reports suggesting he could be the next coach of the Trojans.

“I can’t stand any form of distraction,” Franklin said. “I’ll discuss this with the (team’s) leadership council, so that we can make sure that all of our energy is on our preparation for Auburn.”

Meyer won three national championships as a college coach — in 2006, 2008 and 2014 — at Florida and Ohio State.

He stepped away from coaching at Florida to focus on his health in 2010 and took over at Ohio State in 2012. He retired early in 2019 after the Rose Bowl and joined FOX as a college football analyst.

–Field Level Media

Jaguars quarterbacks (15) Gardner Minshew II and (16) Trevor Lawrence during drills at Tuesday's minicamp session. The Jacksonville Jaguars held their Tuesday morning session of the team's mandatory minicamp at the practice fields outside TIAA Bank Field, June 15, 2021. Jki 061521 Jaguarsveteransminicamp 04

Urban Meyer says Jags’ QB competition still open

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer claims No. 1 draft pick Trevor Lawrence and Gardner Minshew are still competing to start in Week 1 against the Houston Texans.

A reporter asked Meyer at training camp Thursday whether there was still a chance Lawrence wouldn’t be under center for the season opener.

“Is there really a chance? Uh, I think we’ll answer that as it gets closer,” answered Meyer, who then responded affirmatively to a follow-up question about whether it is still an open competition for that honor.

The Jaguars open their preseason schedule at home Saturday against the Cleveland Browns. The regular season opener against the Texans is one month away on Sept. 12 in Houston.

Lawrence and Minshew have been splitting the first-team reps in camp.

Lawrence, 21, was the top selection in the 2021 draft after completing 66.6 percent of his passes for 10,098 yards, 90 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in three seasons at Clemson.

Minshew, 25, is 7-13 as the Jaguars’ starter over the past two seasons, completing 62.9 percent of his throws for 5,530 yards with 37 TDs and 11 picks during that span.

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; General view of the stadium prior to the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Jaguars unveil ‘Stadium of the Future’ plan

Posted on | by Field Level Media

A plan to transform downtown Jacksonville, which would include the “Stadium of the Future,” was unveiled Thursday by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Called 1st DownTown Jacksonville, the plan reimagines the area around TIAA Bank Field as a hub for jobs and tourism that will “solidify Jacksonville as the Hometown of the Jaguars and the future site of a Super Bowl Parade,” the proposal said.

While the plan includes adding a luxury hotel, enhancing parks and making the area a “world-class riverfront destination,” the focus Thursday was on enhancements for the Jaguars — improvements new head coach Urban Meyer have said are necessary to attract free agents and field a first-class team.

Those improvements include a $120 million football performance center, which the city and team would split 50-50 under Jaguars owner Shad Khan’s proposal. The 125,000-square-foot facility would include locker rooms, team and positional meeting rooms, training and recovery areas, medical support facilities, weight room, dining facilities, office space and a draft room.