College football media reacts to news of Urban Meyer being hired as head coach of Jacksonville Jaguars
It appears that the Jacksonville Jaguars were the fit that Urban Meyer was looking for to return to the head coaching ranks.
The 56-year-old, who won 2 national championships with Florida and 1 with Ohio State, has ended a more than 2-year spell away from the sidelines as he takes the reins of a Jaguars franchise looking to make waves in the NFL. And his season-opening roster will almost certainly include presumptive No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence.
It remains to be seen if Meyer will enjoy the same success he saw at the college level, but there was plenty of reaction about it across social media from those that cover the sport. One congratulatory message came from Dave Revsine, an anchor with the Big Ten Network (Meyer’s now-former employer, Fox, owns 51 percent of the network with the Big Ten):
Happy for @CoachUrbanMeyer bummed for us. Have had a blast covering the last two CFP’s with Urban and working with him on a number of @BigTenNetwork shows. An outstanding TV analyst.
Wishing him all the best! pic.twitter.com/GWqoLUwFZz
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) January 14, 2021
Matt Leinart, who shared the Big Noon Kickoff desk with Meyer on Fox, also tweeted his well wishes:
Coach became a great friend the last two years. Coach is also one of the most competitive people I’ve ever been around and by far the greatest Leader I know! @CoachUrbanMeyer I’ll miss you brother. Best of Luck! @Jaguars
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) January 15, 2021
Here’s what others around college football (and others) thought of the decision:
Urban Meyer will be successful if Trevor Lawrence is great. It’s that simple. pic.twitter.com/NZzleNOwzK
— Michael Grant (@MichaelGrant_CJ) January 14, 2021
Seems Urban Meyer to Jacksonville Jaguars is official now. GREAT hire! Potential franchise QB coming in Trevor Lawrence. They won't have a winning record until 2023, at least. But once they start winning, they won't stop! #DUUUVAL
— Ron Mott (@RonMott) January 14, 2021
I am excited about Urban Meyer being the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, I will not lie
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) January 14, 2021
Spoke to a veteran college coach today who predicts more college coaches head to the NFL to avoid the seismic changes coming with NIL and the transfer rules. "Every college coach right now is somehow, someway aspiring to go to the NFL."
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 14, 2021
I see Urban Meyer as a Jimmy Johnson-type. I think he’ll have really good success as an NFL HC.
— Emory Hunt (@FBallGameplan) January 14, 2021
Is this the Lethal Weapon 3 or 4 for Urban Meyer? pic.twitter.com/v2mz0WiyU3
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) January 14, 2021
Urban Meyer: Jacksonville Jaguars head coach
This is so weird. Curious to see how it goes.
— Patrick Schmidt (@PatrickASchmidt) January 14, 2021
I have no idea how successful Urban Meyer will be in the NFL. But he will make the Jaguars relevant. I was among those who wonder how well his methods will work in the NFL. But he is a supremely intelligent guy who's an excellent CEO, which is what the job really is now. 1/
— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) January 15, 2021
I was a reporter in OH when Urban Meyer was named head coach at @bgsu from day 1 I knew he was a SUPER STAR, I was right! He was my partner on the desk @espn & learned a ton about motivation & culture. Urban will win big with @Jaguars I guarantee a division title in 3 years.
— Ryan Burr (@RyanBurr) January 15, 2021
Urban Meyer is a PHENOMENAL hire for the #Jaguars. Jacksonville is guaranteed to win because he wins everywhere he goes.
Here are the facts: #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/EXi96LNInq— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) January 15, 2021