Urban Meyer’s first season as Jaguars coach has been so tumultuous that his own assistant head coach already has internal support to take over the top job, as CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora reported this week. Sunday’s results probably won’t help Meyer’s cause. Facing the AFC South-leading Titans, Jacksonville turned in one of its poorest showings of the year, with No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence throwing a season-worst four interceptions en route to a 20-0 shutout that officially eliminates the Jaguars from playoff contention.
Now 2-11 on the year on a six-game losing streak, the Jags become just the second team to be knocked out of the postseason picture after the Houston Texans (2-11). They’ve now lost at least 11 games in nine of their last 11 seasons. Meyer, meanwhile, has already lost seven more games in his first season running the Jaguars than he ever lost in any previous season as a head coach at the college level.
The embattled first-year coach was seen all but shrugging off a post-game handshake with Titans coach Mike Vrabel following Sunday’s 20-point loss. This comes amid increasingly dire reports out of Jacksonville regarding his standing with the Jags. La Canfora indicated Saturday that Meyer’s relationship with players has only deteriorated as the 2021 campaign has wore on, even as team owner Shad Khan has publicly stood by Meyer and Meyer himself has repeatedly recommitted to rebuilding the franchise.
