What a distinction one yr has made for the Jaguars.
This time final season, Jacksonville was extra involved about who they’d take first within the 2022 NFL Draft, because the franchise ended up with the no. 1 for the second time in as a few years. Now, the Jaguars are the AFC South champions and the No. four seed within the AFC playoffs.
The Doug Pederson-led Jags will play the 5-seed Chargers at residence on Saturday evening. Followers are hoping the sport spurs a deep playoff run for a franchise that has been closely criticized lately.
By no means has that been more true than in 2021 below City Meyer.
MORE: Particulars on City Meyer’s disastrous Jags tenure
Meyer, who received nationwide championships at Florida and Ohio State, did not final a season with the Jaguars; his NFL teaching profession ended abruptly after going 2-11 in 13 video games. The staff went 1-Three after he was fired, which was nonetheless a greater successful proportion (.250) than when he was employed (.154).
Meyer did not go away the game totally, nevertheless.
What’s City Meyer doing now?
Meyer returned to his earlier job as a school soccer analyst for Fox Sports activities.
The community quietly introduced its return on Friday, August 19 — in any other case referred to as the Friday information pit. Meyer was talked about solely briefly within the announcement:
“Massive Midday Kickoff returns with its unique solid, Rob Stone, Brady Quinn, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and City Meyer, collectively once more on the highway this fall.” Fox Sports activities stated within the announcement.
MORE: City Meyer explains ‘worst expertise of my skilled life’
Meyer’s return to tv seems to have been welcomed by his former gamers, whose recollection of their time below him was lower than flattering. Certainly, Jacksonville’s poor file below Meyer was just one aspect of its disastrous foray into the NFL.
He produced controversy after controversy in Jacksonville, together with: the hiring and subsequent firing of power and conditioning coach Chris Doyle; not understanding who Aaron Donald was; dancing with a girl who wasn’t his spouse (after the Jaguars left Ohio following a “Thursday Evening Soccer” loss at Cincinnati whereas Meyer stayed behind); and apparently hit kicker Josh Lambo.
Amongst different issues.
MORE: Why do the Jaguars say ‘Duval’? How the Jacksonville fan chant began and what it means
The dysfunction in Jacksonville led to many former gamers — and staff proprietor Shahid Khan — attacking the previous coach. That features broad receiver Marvin Jones, who, after serving to the Jaguars safe the AFC South title, was requested if Meyer left the staff damaged in his wake.
Marvin Jones on the notion of #Jaguars they broke up after final yr with City Meyer.
“I feel one individual was damaged. It wasn’t us,” he stated.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 8, 2023
Linebacker Josh Allen was rather less pointed in his criticism of Meyer, although he did not point out him by identify. His rebuke of the previous coach was included in his description of what it was wish to know Pederson:
It is good to be a part of knowledgeable locker room. Not simply within the locker room, however once you speak to the coaches, it is a skilled setting. You need to deal with the small print. In the event you do not take heed to the small print, it would not contact you, it tells you what is true and what’s flawed.
As boys, as grown males, we have to perceive that and he places it in a method that we are able to perceive and develop from. It doesn’t activate us, it tells us what’s actual. He talks to us like grown males. And with that, nothing however respect, we need to develop, we need to be nice. And he has that respect on his resume.
It stays to be seen if Meyer decides to aim one other return to teaching, although it can virtually actually be on the faculty degree, the place he has acquired greater than a bit curiosity from colleges.
For now, Meyer can solely watch Jacksonville make the playoffs a yr after giving him the sport — if he watches in any respect.