If you had asked the casual NFL fan if the Jacksonville Jaguars would make the playoffs in 2022, laughter might have ensued. Jacksonville floundered to a 3-14 record in 2021, with Urban Meyer leading the team to a 2-11 start. After multiple controversies and loss of respect in the locker room, Jaguars owner Shahid Khan dismissed Meyer just 13 games into his NFL coaching career.
Now, under the direction of former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, the Jaguars are AFC South champions and heading to the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
While Jacksonville made moves in the offseason, a large portion of the team remained the same from last season, pointing to Meyer’s mismanagement of the team in 2021. Despite being ousted from the professional ranks, the former college national championship head coach did find a place to stay in football.
Where Is Urban Meyer Now?
The Jaguars lured Meyer away from Fox Sports’ CFB coverage as the long-time college football head coach had transitioned to pregame coverage after leaving Ohio State in 2018. Meyer returned to Fox Sports’ “Big Noon Kickoff” in 2022, rejoining Rob Stone, Brady Quinn, Reggie Bush, and Matt Leinart. The crew travels across the country each week of the college football season, previewing the best matchups that day from various college campuses.
The announcement wasn’t very public, which makes sense for Fox Sports’ public relations. Already mired in controversies at his previous collegiate stops, Meyer added a few more during his time with the Jaguars.
Things started on the wrong foot. Meyer hired and immediately fired, due to backlash, disgraced strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle. Then, after starting the season 0-4 and losing to the Bengals on Thursday Night Football, Meyer was spotted in a bar dancing and inappropriately touching a woman who was not his wife while the Jaguars were headed home.
MORE: Why Did the Philadelphia Eagles Fire Doug Pederson?
His disastrous tenure culminated in allegations from former Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo claiming Meyer physically abused him by repeatedly kicking his leg during warmups before the team’s final preseason game. Following these revelations, Khan pulled the plug on Meyer’s NFL coaching career after just 13 games.
Meyer is now tied with Lou Holtz and Bobby Petrino for the fourth-shortest coaching tenures in NFL history. It seems evident that any chance at another NFL coaching position is out of the question.
However, while he remains a commentator for now, a return to college football is always a possibility. Before hiring Matt Rhule to take over coaching duties, the Nebraska Cornhuskers reached out to Meyer concerning the search.
While it may have been to vet other possible candidates, it’s clear there are still college football programs that respect what Meyer has done at the collegiate level. Meyer also serves on the board of THE Foundation, a collective founded to further Ohio State’s name, image, and likeness activities. While he may not be actively coaching, Meyer is still heavily involved with football.