Florida to honor Urban Meyer during 2025 home game, AD announces
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Urban Meyer is returning to The Swamp this fall. Florida AD Scott Stricklin announced this week that the former Gator head coach will be recognized at a home game during the 2025 season.
Stricklin shared the news in a letter to fans that addressed revenue sharing, stadium renovation and a new staff position.
Oh, and one more thing… the Gators’ two-time national championship coach Urban Meyer is being inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in December, becoming the 15th UF representative to receive that special honor,” Stricklin wrote. “We will all have the opportunity to celebrate Coach Meyer and this outstanding achievement at a home game this season. Stay tuned for the announcement of which particular Gator game that will be.
The College Football Hall of Fame announced Meyer’s election this past January. Meyer, 61, had a decorated 6-season tenure as the Florida football head coach.
After finding success at Bowling Green (17-6, 2001-02) and Utah (22-2, 2003-04), Meyer took the Florida head coaching job ahead of the 2005 season. In 6 seasons, he would post a 65-15 record, going 36-12 in SEC play.
Following a 9-3 debut season in 2005, the Gators had a magical Year 2 under Meyer in 2006. Employing both senior Chris Leak and freshman Tim Tebow at quarterback, Florida went 13-1 in the 2006 campaign, defeating Arkansas to win the SEC Championship and Ohio State to win the BCS National Championship, UF’s 2nd title in program history.
Meyer would add a Heisman Trophy quarterback to his coaching resume in 2007, as Tebow became the first sophomore to win college football’s top individual honor. The Gators took a step back as a team in 2007, finishing 9-4, but would be back on top in 2008.
The ’08 season cemented Meyer’s legacy as the only Florida football coach to win multiple national titles. A 3rd-year Tebow led the team to another SEC title, this time taking down Nick Saban’s No. 1 undefeated Alabama team in Atlanta. In a matchup with an Oklahoma team led by Heisman winner Sam Bradford, Tebow and Percy Harvin carried the offense while a stingy defensive performance helped secure a 24-14 win.
The Gators sought to make it 3 titles in 4 years in 2009, but an undefeated season came to an end with an SEC title loss to Alabama. Florida would finish with 13 wins, capped by a Sugar Bowl victory in Tebow’s farewell game.
Meyer made a retirement announcement before the Sugar Bowl, citing health and family reasons. He changed his mind, but in 2010 decided to retire after that season. The Gators went 8-5 in the 2010 campaign, defeating Penn State in the Outback Bowl to give Meyer a victory in his Florida farewell.
Despite being Florida’s only coach to win 2 national championships, Meyer has yet to join Tebow, Wilber Marshall, Emmitt Smith, Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Jack Youngblood in the Ring of Honor. We’ll see if that changes with his return to The Swamp.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
