Jaguars owner blasts Urban Meyer: 'How can you work with someone like that?'
Urban Meyer was an unmitigated disaster in Jacksonville. From the Tim Tebow experience at tight end, to a controversial viral dancing video, a whole lot of losses and an unceremonious firing, Jaguars owner Shad Khan certainly has some buyer’s remorse.
According to Khan, it wasn’t the losing that led to Meyer’s firing — it was his inability to trust the former Jacksonville coach.
“When you lose the respect, the trust and an issue of truthfulness, how can you work with someone like that?” Khan told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s not possible.”
Meyer may have been 2-11 on the season, but the off-field concerns were too much to overcome. Detractors always said his style would never work in the NFL, and they were on the money.
The straw that broke the camel’s back for Meyer was an alleged incident between the former Jaguars coach and former Jacksonville kicker Josh Lambo. According to Lambo, Meyer kicked him during pregame warmups. It didn’t help as the accusations came after it was alleged that Meyer also berated his assistants on a regular basis.
Continuing, Khan compared Meyer to the past head coaches he’s hired, and what was different in letting go of the former Ohio State and Florida coach.
“It was not about wins and losses,” said Khan. “I think when you know someone is not truthful, how can you be around someone, OK? We had Doug Marrone here four years. We had Gus Bradley here four years. I have nothing but the utmost respect and friendship with them.
“That’s why they got the time, because it wasn’t a matter about respect or truth. It was a matter of wins and losses over four years. This is much bigger than that.”
Evidently, Meyer won’t be getting any warm regards from Khan after their separation, in the way Marrone and Bradley do.
According to USA TODAY Sports, the issue isn’t resolved yet, either. Now, there’s the issue of whether Meyer deserves the balance of his contract, as the Jaguars believe he was fired with cause.
“A person with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity told USA TODAY Sports that the two sides have been unable to strike a settle agreement,” wrote Jarrett Bell of USA TODAY Sports. “The person did not want to be identified because they are not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
“The five-year contract that Meyer signed in 2021 is, per multiple reports, worth $10-12 million per year, but the Jaguars don’t intend to pay the balance of the contract while contending the coach was fired for cause.”
As you can see, the saga between Urban Meyer and Jacksonville may not be over yet. However, one thing is for sure — there’s no love, and certainly no trust, between Shad Khan and the former Jaguars coach.