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Report: Urban Meyer Fired for Cause by Jaguars, Won't Be Paid Rest of Contract
December 18, 2021
The Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly fired former head coach Urban Meyer for cause in an attempt to void the final four years of his contract.
ESPN's Jeff Darlington and Adam Schefter reported Saturday the Jags' decision to withhold the rest of the guaranteed money in the five-year deal was "not tied to one specific incident" and rather an accumulation of factors leading up to Meyer's firing Thursday.
Meyer can challenge the Jaguars' for-cause label in court, and it's possible the sides eventually reach an agreement to avoid a "prolonged legal situation," according to the ESPN report.
Financial details of the five-year contract the 57-year-old Ohio native signed in January were never publicly released, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported before the deal was signed that the former college coach was seeking $12 million annually.
Meyer's tenure in Jacksonville was an unmitigated failure.
In July, the NFL fined the Jaguars $200,000 and their head coach $100,000 for a violation of the league's rules preventing contact during offseason practices.
Then, with the Jags off to an 0-4 start, videos were posted on social media showing a woman who wasn't Meyer's wife dancing on him in an Ohio bar. He'd stayed behind in his home state to visit family after a Thursday Night Football loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4.
After that incident, team owner Shad Khan released a statement saying he'd talked to Meyer about his actions.
"What I will say is his conduct last weekend was inexcusable," Khan said. "I appreciate Urban's remorse, which I believe is sincere. Now, he must regain our trust and respect. That will require a personal commitment from Urban to everyone who supports, represents or plays for our team. I am confident he will deliver."
Then on Wednesday, former Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo alleged Meyer kicked him during an August practice.
"I'm in a lunge position. Left leg forward, right leg back," Lambo told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "Urban Meyer, while I'm in that stretch position, comes up to me and says, 'Hey Dips--t, make your f--king kicks!' And kicks me in the leg."
Meyer was fired hours later, though the franchise has maintained that singular report wasn't the reason for the decision.
All the while the Jags continued to struggle on the field. They carry a 2-11 record, tied for the second-worst mark in the NFL, in to Sunday's home game against the Houston Texans (also 2-11).
Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell will serve as the interim head coach for the final four games of Jacksonville's season.