2020 has been a year of no guarantees, but when it comes to the Jacksonville Jaguars, we can guarantee two things:
- They will be in search of a new head coach and GM.
- They have the number one pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Barring anything crazy happening between now and April, it appears that Clemson phenom quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be the Jags’ pick at the top spot.
Gardner Minshew got them through 2019 and some of 2020 and outperformed expectations, but there is no denying that Lawrence is the better quarterback and will be the future of the franchise.
With the opening at head coach comes questions and speculation about who will take over in Jacksonville.
Urban Meyer is a name to keep an eye on here.
His name has been thrown around for several NFL jobs over the last few years, but this year feels different.
In fact, ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported some sources close to the situation saying that at least two teams have asked Meyer about his interest in making the jump and that he has not dismissed the idea.
NFL teams are eyeing former Ohio State HC Urban Meyer for head-coach openings:https://t.co/34bjog4oVf
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 27, 2020
Meyer has twice retired from coaching football due to health concerns, so if his health is no longer an issue for him and his family, 2021 may be the year to give the NFL a shot.
Believe it or not, Jacksonville would be a great place to do it.
Florida Ties
Jacksonville has some ground to make up with their fans.
They have finished last in the division the last 3 years after winning it in 2017 and making a run in the playoffs.
Their defense was stout, they had a dominant running back in Leonard Fournette, and they thought Blake Bortles was the future of the franchise.
However, the organization failed to keep Jalen Ramsey and Fournette happy and shipped both of them out of town.
Bortles never really panned out and was replaced by Nick Foles who lasted less than one season.
Meyer’s success at the University of Florida may bring some life to the fanbase.
His intensity would be a good fit in Jacksonville for a team and a fanbase that could use a spark.
Low Expectations
While guys like Jimmy Johnson, Pete Carroll, and Barry Switzer have had successful college and NFL coaching tenures, most college turned pro coaches don’t pan out.
Even some of the greats like Nick Saban and Lou Holtz couldn’t cut it in the NFL.
This is likely in the back of Meyer’s mind when he considers the pros and cons, but Jacksonville is in about as bad a shape as an organization can be right about now, so his only way is up.
Even a record of .500 over a couple years would be considered a success for the former Florida and Ohio State coach.
Meyer has suffered from arachnoid cysts on the brain that cause headaches and are linked to stress.
At least initially in Jacksonville, the stress that comes along with maintaining high expectations would be minimal because there are no expectations.
Trevor Lawrence
Speaking of no stress, any head coach could rest peacefully at night knowing that Trevor Lawrence is the future of the franchise.
Trevor Lawrence is a Jaguar. pic.twitter.com/Lln80aRF7q
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 27, 2020
He is as talented as any quarterback prospect in recent history, and he appears to have his head on straight.
Meyer has had success with athletic quarterbacks in college (Tim Tebow, Braxton Miller, JT Barret).
Lawrence is every bit the athlete those guys are and has NFL-level arm talent.
In a league where offenses are starting to adopt more college schemes, it is hard to imagine Meyer not having some level of success with Lawrence under center.
If Urban Meyer really wants to make the jump to the NFL, he should pounce on the opportunity in Jacksonville.
NEXT: Jaguars WR Discusses The Importance Of Beating The Texans11 draft picks, an estimated $100M in cap space and starting the rebuild with Trevor Lawrence on a rookie deal. The #Jaguars GM job will easily be the most attractive in the NFL.
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) December 27, 2020
