The Jacksonville Jaguars faced plenty of scrutiny this offseason when they hired longtime college coach Urban Meyer as the team’s head coach for this season. Meyer was three years removed from his time at Ohio State, had zero head-coaching experience in the NFL and a wildly controversial past.
But he’s popular in Florida, the Jaguars are desperate and he got to start with No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence at quarterback. What could go wrong?
A lot … it turns out.
The Jaguars opened their 2021 season on Sunday against the Texans — another team expected to be at the bottom of the league. As bad as the Texans probably will be, the Jaguars looked far worse. Jacksonville converted just three times on third down. They punted six times. Lawrence threw three picks. And James Robinson — who rushed for 1,070 yards in his rookie season — was practically invisible with five rush attempts. It was an ugly 37-21 loss (and only that close thanks to a touchdown in the final seconds).
No wonder NFL fans roasted Meyer after the awful debut.
This was how Twitter reacted
Urban Meyer is DOWN BAD https://t.co/4fdcmXs9bN pic.twitter.com/o8PZPyDsL0
— Justus Rogers (@justusrogersTV) September 12, 2021
the Jags are almost definitely going to lose more games than Urban Meyer lost in his entire Ohio State career (9) but we can't rule out that they'll lose more games than he lost in his entire Florida career (15)
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 12, 2021
Urban Meyer going back to college pic.twitter.com/8ndocFYQEG
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) September 12, 2021
Urban Meyer is 15 minutes into his NFL career.
He trails the expected worst team in the league by two TDs.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 12, 2021
Urban Meyer as an NFL head coach pic.twitter.com/NzGG8JlsQo
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) September 12, 2021
Jaguars coach Urban Meyer checking the Jaguars schedule to see what week they get to play Vanderbilt pic.twitter.com/T7sBOeNMSN
— JSWilliams1962 (@jswtreeman) September 12, 2021
Urban Meyer is down 14 to Houston and is leaning on Carlos Hyde.
James Robinson has ZERO touches.
I despise Meyer.
— Brad Evans (@NoisyHuevos) September 12, 2021
Send Urban Meyer to Bishop Sycamore smh 😤😤😤 https://t.co/hXOueAwPqy
— Stimulus Check Papi (@TrillMcGraw) September 12, 2021
In these trying times as a country, at least we all agree it’s hilarious and inspiring to see Urban Meyer get embarrassed in public
— Brendan Quinn (@BFQuinn) September 12, 2021
Urban Meyer in his post game interview pic.twitter.com/H77icxLTts
— Annie Agar (@AnnieAgar) September 12, 2021
Jags fans watching the first half of the Trevor Lawrence/Urban Meyer era pic.twitter.com/yyrpJjGFkw
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 12, 2021
The Urban Meyer mid-season firing is going to be a special moment in sports history.
— Fred Smith (@FredSmith914) September 12, 2021
Urban Meyer calling Randy Edsall right now to see if he can borrow his special week 1 retirement letterhead
— Jessica Smetana (@jessica_smetana) September 12, 2021
Urban Meyer to USC a la Nick Saban from the Dolphins feels likely
— Tate Frazier (@tatefrazier) September 12, 2021
Urban Meyer will be here by Week 8 pic.twitter.com/Yoz5btqQdi
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) September 12, 2021
It doesn’t get much easier for the Jaguars either with home games against Denver and Arizona coming up.
