Report: Former Utah Head Coach Urban Meyer ‘Expects To Land’ Jacksonville Jaguars Job
Jan 2, 2021, 4:05 PM
Fox Sports analyst Urban Meyer at the Big Ten Championship game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah Utes head coach Urban Meyer “has been lining up a staff” and “expects to land” with the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
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The former Utah head coach would replace Doug Marrone, who has led the Jaguars to a 1-14 start in 2020.
“The Jaguars haven’t made a final decision on coach Doug Marrone’s future, but he’s expected to be replaced in the days following Sunday’s finale against the Colts — and they’re expected to make a run at least one possible big-name replacement,” Rapoport wrote. “The team has shown interest in former Florida and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who has been lining up a staff and telling people he’s close to in the football community that he expects to land in Jacksonville, per sources.”
Jacksonville is slated to finish the season against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, January 3.
The #Jaguars have held off making a firm and final decision on coach Doug Marrone, but sources say they will likely move on from him. Expect Urban Meyer to be a top target. My story: https://t.co/1q6jeVgXJY
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 2, 2021
“The Jaguars won’t make a firm and final decision on Marrone until after the season, but this is the expected outcome provided Jacksonville feels confident it can find Marrone’s replacement,” Rapoport added.
The 56-year-old last coached at Ohio State in January 2019.
If Urban Meyer decides to stay retired… Ohio St coach Ryan Day is a potential target, sources say. https://t.co/Rw6D14iOaw
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 2, 2021
Since then, Meyer has been a college football analyst for FOX Sports.
NFL teams show interest in Urban Meyer
On Sunday, December 27, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that at least two NFL teams had contacted the three-time national championship-winning head coach.
“At least two NFL teams have reached out to Urban Meyer to see whether the former Ohio State coach would be interested in interviewing for — if not accepting — a head-coaching job at the next level, league sources told ESPN,” Schefter wrote. “Meyer, according to a source connected to one of those teams, did not dismiss the overtures and is considering whether to make the jump to the NFL. He intends to decide in the next week, before the NFL regular season is over, and teams expect to hear his decision in the coming days.”
NFL teams are eyeing former Ohio State HC Urban Meyer for head-coach openings:https://t.co/34bjog4oVf
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 27, 2020
NFL Head Coach Openings
The following NFL teams currently have head coach vacancies:
- Atlanta Falcons
- Detroit Lions
- Houston Texans
Reports have surfaced that the New York Jets are expected to fire Adam Gase following Week 17.
“Sources who have spoken to Meyer believe he wants to make sure that, if he decides to make the jump to the NFL, he is prepared to fully immerse himself in a new world,” Schefter added.
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Urban Meyer as a head coach
Meyer served as Utah’s head coach from 2003-04 and led the Utes to a 22-2 record in two seasons.
After his time in Salt Lake City, he went on to coach Florida to a pair of titles before taking a job with the Buckeyes. Meyer won a title with Ohio State in 2014.
Sup @CoachUrbanMeyer 👋 pic.twitter.com/CJmevGBZLi
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 2, 2021
During his time as head coach at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, and Ohio State, Meyer had a record of 187-32.
Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).
