Jaguars Coach Urban Meyer Could Fill an NFL Roster With All of His Active Ex-College Players
After years of speculation, Urban Meyer finally took an NFL head coaching job — and with the Jacksonville Jaguars, no less.
A legendary college head coach, Meyer is tasked with restoring the Jaguars to some level of relevance. Despite having talented players from Maurice Jones-Drew to Jalen Ramsey over the years, Jacksonville has only made the playoffs once since the 2008 season began.
If Meyer wanted to add some of his former college players in free agency or via trade, he’d have plenty to choose from if he desired. Meyer could field an NFL team with how many of his ex-players are currently in the league.
Urban Meyer is now with the Jacksonville Jaguars
Assuming the team drafts Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence in April, the Jacksonville Jaguars were always on pace to be slightly watchable next season.
However, the arrival of Urban Meyer greatly ups the stakes and attention in Jacksonville. A national championship-winning head coach at Florida and Ohio State, Meyer officially agreed to become the Jaguars’ head coach on Thursday, January 14.
Meyer has never been an NFL head coach before. He retired from Ohio State after the 2018 season ended.
Meyer inherits a talented Jaguars team, one that nonetheless went 1-15 last season. Rookie running back James Robinson topped 1,000 yards after going undrafted, and linebacker Myles Jack turned in another solid campaign.
Urban Meyer had a legendary college coaching career
Urban Meyer won wherever he went in college, and that isn’t hyperbole.
Meyer went 187-32 in 16 seasons as a head coach across four schools, and he never posted a losing season. That success included three national championships, including two at Florida in the BCS era.
Meyer went an incredible 83-9 at Ohio State and never lost more than two seasons in one season. Most importantly, Ohio State never lost to rival Michigan in Meyer’s seven seasons with the Buckeyes.
Meyer could field an NFL team with his active alumni players
If someone played for Urban Meyer in college, there is a very strong chance they reached the NFL.
According to NFL Research, 57 active players who played at least one game under Meyer in college wound up participating in an NFL game in 2020.
Think about that for a second. The NFL still has 53-man rosters, and Meyer produced more than that while in college.
Most of those players, naturally, came from Ohio State. That includes Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott, Saints receiver Michael Thomas, and the Bosa brothers.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow also counts on that list. Burrow began his career at Ohio State and played in mop-up duty before he transferred to LSU before the 2018 season.
Several of Meyer’s ex-Florida players are still active, too. That includes Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey and cornerback Joe Haden, plus Seahawks defensive end Carlos Dunlap and 49ers tight end Jordan Reed.
Meyer may even have one of his former football players make his MLB debut in 2021. Gators legend Tim Tebow is still a minor-league outfielder in the New York Mets’ system.
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