The Worst Coaching Hire in NFL History: Urban Meyer’s Disastrous Tenure with the Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been rejuvenated over the last two seasons under the leadership of head coach Doug Pederson, but it’s hard to forget the disastrous tenure of Urban Meyer, who was hired as the team’s head coach in 2021. Meyer’s tenure was marked by controversy and failure, earning him the title of worst coaching hire in NFL history.

Urban Meyer’s disastrous tenure with the Jaguars

Meyer, a three-time NCAA champion, had no prior NFL experience when he was hired by the Jaguars. Despite his impressive collegiate record, he was unable to translate that success to the NFL. In his lone season with the Jaguars, Meyer compiled a dismal 2-11 record, the shortest tenure in Jaguars’ history and tied for the fourth shortest tenure of any NFL coach.

Meyer’s tenure was marked by controversy from the start. He added strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle to his staff, despite Doyle’s history of allegations of racial discrimination. He also signed Tim Tebow to play tight end, a move that was widely criticized.

“Urban Meyer had been out of coaching for three years and had zero NFL experience when the Jacksonville Jaguars hired him as their head coach in 2021. While Meyer was a three-time NCAA champion, his collegiate accomplishments couldn’t prevent him from posting the worst coaching tenure in NFL history.” - Pro Football Network

Meyer’s off-field antics were just as troublesome. He was infamously spotted dancing with a woman who was not his wife in Ohio, and he reportedly held a staff meeting where he referred to his assistants as “losers.” But the final straw came when Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo revealed that Meyer kicked him in the leg while he was preparing for a preseason game. Meyer was fired hours after the incident, mercifully ending his disastrous tenure with the Jaguars.

Josh Lambo’s accusation of Urban Meyer led to his firing

In hindsight, it’s clear that the Jaguars made a huge mistake in hiring Meyer. His lack of NFL experience and history of controversy made him a poor fit for the team. Despite the promise of a fresh start, Meyer’s tenure was doomed from the beginning.

Since Meyer’s departure, the Jaguars have made significant strides under Pederson’s leadership. The team has been rejuvenated, and the atmosphere around the franchise has improved dramatically. It’s a testament to the importance of hiring the right coach and the dangers of making impulse decisions based on past successes.

Doug Pederson has brought stability and success to the Jaguars