Jaguars news: Jacksonville officially hires Urban Meyer as their new coach

The Jaguars officially signed a contract with new head coach Urban Meyer, who inherits a 1-15 NFL team, making the leap from college.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are heading toward a new chapter in the expansion franchise’s history with the official hire of former Ohio State Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer as the next head coach of the Jags, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The deal is done: Urban Meyer is the next #Jaguars coach, source said.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 14, 2021

Official statement from Jaguars’ owner Shad Khan, welcoming Urban Meyer as his new HC. pic.twitter.com/BCd7DEHkDI

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2021

Meyer succeeds Doug Marrone, who helmed the Jaguars for five seasons. Marrone was dismissed from Jacksonville following a single-win 2020 NFL campaign. Previously, Marrone led the Jaguars to an AFC Championship Game appearance back in 2017-18, ultimately leading to a loss to the New England Patriots.

Urban Meyer makes the leap from the NCAA to the pros after a checkered past at the University of Florida and Ohio State. The new Jaguars coach won two national championships with Florida before taking the Ohio State job in 2012, later winning a title in 2014. However, Meyer was ousted in an embarrassing fashion back in 2018 due to a cover-up scandal surrounding assistant coach Zach Smith.

Meyer was suspended for three games and later retired from the Buckeyes program following Ohio State’s 2019 Rose Bowl appearance.

The Jaguars were reportedly in heavy talks with Urban earlier today before announcing the official partnership on Thursday evening.

The Jaguars are primed to have a wild offseason as they will possess the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. It is widely expected that Jacksonville will select Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence despite rostering second-year signal-caller Gardner Minshew.

The past year-plus saw talented veterans such as Jalen Ramsey and Yannick leave the Jaguars via trades, signaling the tear-down and rebuild of the franchise. Jacksonville responded by tanking the 2020 season, winning its first game of the campaign before losing 15 consecutive games—an almost unparallel streak.

Urban Meyer gets to supervise the new-look Jaguars and rebuild as he becomes the latest successful college coach to get handed the reins of an NFL team.