There are rumors that Urban Meyer could be a one-and-done head coach, if he even makes it to the end of his first season with the Jaguars. But Jacksonville owner Shad Khan — who publicly condemned his HC’s behavior after the team flight/bar room debacle a few weeks ago — has not lost faith in Meyer.
A source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com that Khan is “all in” on Meyer, and Khan himself has disputed the rumors of turmoil within his club’s locker room. Earlier this month, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reiterated his previous reports that Meyer has struggled to earn his players’ trust and respect, and he added that Meyer’s inability to make appropriate halftime adjustments, along with his overworking his team in practice, has led to second-half collapses in games.
La Canfora is not the only one who has detailed Meyer’s issues in adjusting to his first NFL gig. Khan, however, says perception does not match reality.
When speaking about the Jags’ gritty Week 6 victory over the Dolphins in London — a victory that snapped a 20-game losing streak — Khan said, “I couldn’t ask for anything more from the players. The cohesiveness and the strength to pull it out. This is where the impression from the outside is very different from the inside. … I mean, there are a lot of times and I’m not just talking about football, in business situations, what you read is so different from what the reality is and this was one of those cases. I wasn’t surprised, I believe in us.”
Khan went on to say that he “absolutely” has faith in Meyer. Of course, the Jaguars are still just 1-5 after their London victory, and it could take a few more wins and continued development from rookie QB Trevor Lawrence to convince Khan to keep Meyer around for 2022. For now, though, it seems the owner has moved past Meyer’s earlier transgressions and is committed to giving him every chance to succeed.
Jacksonville will try to make it two wins in a row when they take on the Seahawks in Seattle this afternoon.
Yep. When you’ve made a horrific mistake (that was obvious to everyone except you when you made it) and then it becomes even obvious to you, a great strategy is to get indignant and double down on it. That always works out well…….
1 lap dance vs 3 national championships and lord knows how many NFL players he developed? Clearly Urban has no idea how to coach, sure. It was a beyond dumb thing to do on tape. But that’s it.
NFL players he recruited. He’s a spectacular recruiter, no doubt, but sending players to the nfl is a lot easier when they’re all four and five star recruits.
He chose Dwayne Haskins over Joe Burrow. It worked out because Ohio state was super talented thanks to his recruiting ability.
Winning in college and winning in the nfl are completely different things. He deserves at least another year or two since Jacksonville was going to be bad this year no matter the coach, but making so many poor decisions on seemingly simple decisions in his first year is not a good start.
Who was the last college coach to succeed as an nfl head coach? (I’m genuinely asking; none come to mind. Saban and chip Kelly were both massive failures by the time they went back to college.
Kingsbury has done well this year so there’s one success story but that’s about all I can remember and we’ll see how the cardinals finish before he can be called a success either.
Jimmie Johnson kinda did okay.
Kliff K (Cards), BoB (Texans), Doug Maron was around 500 in the NFL. Football is football. Yes, there are different levels of talent, but getting them to play is what makes it.
I’m not pro Urban, but 7 games into a career shouldn’t define his career either.
As a Jags fan, 7 games into his career should absolutely define it. His career should not get another game. He’s proven on many occasions that he cannot do anything right at the NFL level.
Pete Carroll is probably the best coach to make the transition in quite a while.
Don’t forget that Carroll failed on his first attempt – with the Jets.
Pete Carroll was a 2x NFL head coach before going to college.
So basically you are saying if you are going to cheat don’t let anyone see you. Yes, this is the fine upstanding religious righteous man I want leading young men into battle and life. BTW I don’t think it takes that special of a coach to win with that talent he had. Probably a whole bunch of them could. Dude is a cheat and a snake. Works out for some people I guess.
If you think that was his first lap dance I have a preacher to introduce you to.
The NFL is a totally different beast than the NCAA – in the NFL, “it’s like playing Alabama every week”.
Look, even his own wife forgave Urban (who knows what happened that night after the lap dance)… We all make mistakes… It’s time to move on…
“Look” How do you know his own wife forgave him? Do you live with them? Ever met them? So sick of this “we all make mistakes” nonsense. The guy is a snake oil salesman and glad I said it before you slammed the gavel and announced “it’s time to move on.” You fixed all of this with 26 words and 3 idiotic cliches.
I’m betting you’ve never met the Meyers as well. What did his wife tell you in private after that weekend? But be judgmental.
Hahaha….you are as illogical as julyn
Arty! Thanks so much! There is people of people in this world, no
really much we can do about it. It it what it is! Just don’t pay attention!
Money hides a lot of sins.
I’ve had a generally favorable impression of Khan, he seems like a well-meaning man who lets his employees do their jobs. I think he genuinely wants to win and isn’t just in this for the money. And I think there was an undercurrent of negative racist sentiment from a few people when he bought the Jaguars, which made me want him to succeed. But he’s made or approved some bad personnel decisions, Meyer being the worst. At this point it doesn’t hurt anything for Khan to publicly support Meyer, maybe it helps, but Khan should be seriously reconsidering things both now and especially after the season.
The Mick Jaggers are, and will continue to be a losing org under Khan.
Was there really negative racist sentiment from a “few people” or are you trying to manufacture that cause it sounds good and makes you feel virtuous?
Hmmmm, is the question here that Khan needs to be “in” on Meyer, or that Meyer’s desire is “in” for finishing this season?
Spoiler alert: Most successful college coaches can’t coach. They can offer stuff under the table and get the best players. Not the same thing.
Talent wins more times than not. College football is like Monopoly. It is all about buying the best properties/players.
Khan is likely paying Urban a king’s ransom, thus of course he would say he’s the guy – as getting out of that contract would likely cost him tens of $millions.
Wouldn’t it be a shame though, if Meyer somehow ruins the career of Trevor Lawrence…
I suppose this time next year we will be reading a PFR headline claiming Shad Khan is “all in” on Hue Jackson.
Sounds like he’s toast