Shad Khan calls Jaguars’ head coach Urban Meyer’s conduct in viral video ‘inexcusable’
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By Mark Long, Associated Press and ActionNewsJax.com News Staff
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer apologized to his family, his team and owner Shad Khan for actions he called “just stupid.”
A video surfaced Saturday night showing a woman dancing close to Meyer’s lap, a clip that quickly went viral and made headlines across the country. Another video appears to show Meyer touching the woman’s behind.
Meyer called a team meeting Monday and vowed to “own it,” the motto he uses daily and has plastered all around the Jaguars facility.
“I just apologized to the team and staff for being a distraction,” Meyer told reporters afterward. “Just stupid and so I explained everything that happened and owned it. Just stupid. Should not have put myself in that kind of position.”
Action News Jax received the below statement from Khan Tuesday morning:
“I have addressed this matter with Urban. Specifics of our conversation will be held in confidence. What I will say is his conduct last weekend was inexcusable. I appreciate Urban’s remorse, which I believe is sincere. Now, he must regain our trust and respect. That will require a personal commitment from Urban to everyone who supports, represents or plays for our team. I am confident he will deliver.”
Shad Khan
Meyer didn’t fly back with his winless team followingJacksonville’s 24-21 loss at Cincinnati on Thursday night. The three-time collegiate national championship-winning coach remained in his home state of Ohio to see family members and went to dinner Friday at his restaurant/bar in Columbus, Urban Meyer’s Pint House.
“I stayed to see the grandkids and we all went to the dinner that night,” he said. “There was a big group next to our restaurant and they wanted me to come over and take pictures, and I did. They were trying to pull me out on the dance floor, screwing around, and I should have left.”
The 9-second video showed a young blond woman dancing between the 57-year-old Meyer’s legs as he was sitting on a bar stool.
“I’ve always been so defensive of (my players),” he said. “I remember when (rookie quarterback) Trevor (Lawrence) told me he was going to go to Vegas for his bachelor party. I was just like, ‘My gosh, man, be careful and surround yourself because I’ve seen this happen.′
“The team, I spoke to a bunch of leaders one on one, spoke to all the players. They’re good. They’re focused on Tennessee. I apologized again for being a distraction. A coach should not be a distraction.”
Meyer said he also apologized to his family.
“Yeah, yeah, of course I did,” he said. “That’s not me. Oh, yeah, they’re upset.”
But the epic losing streak ranks fairly low on the list of embarrassing missteps for the franchise since it coaxed Meyer out of retirement in January:
— Meyer hired strength coach Chris Doyle in February despite accusations of racist behavior and then had to let him go a day later because of a pending lawsuit.
— Meyer held a fake QB competition between Lawrence, a generational prospect, and Gardner Minshew in training camp. Meyer since traded Minshew to Philadelphia, where he’s a third-stringer behind Jalen Hurts and Joe Flacco and inactive every week.
— Jacksonville’s social media team started unfollowing longtime fans critical of the team’s performance following a 37-21 debacle at Houston in the season opener.
— Jacksonville declined to make Meyer available to visiting media in Denver in Week 2, creating some outrage.
— The Jaguars traded two starters — linebacker Joe Schobert and cornerback CJ Henderson — and got little in return. Henderson was the ninth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
Meyer said he’s concerned his latest issue could have long-term ramifications with players he hopes buy into his ways to make the team’s rebuild work.
“I have a very good relationship with our players,” he said. “I’ve dealt with this, not on the other side but with staff members and with other things, and I’ve dealt with it. So to say I’m concerned, yeah, I am concerned. But I just got to do right.”
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years Here are some memorable moments from Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer's life in the public eye. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2005: Florida coach Urban Meyer applauds a play against Florida State on November 26, 2005, in Gainesville, Florida. (A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2006: Florida coach Urban Meyer makes a point with umpire Rimas Kozica during play against Iowa in the 2006 Outback Bowl on January 2 in Tampa. Florida defeated Iowa 31-24 . (A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2007: Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer speaks to the media and holds the trophy the day after the BCS Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on January 8, 2007. The Gators won the game 41-14. (Gene Lower/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2008: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide congratulates head coach Urban Meyer of the Florida Gators after the Gators' 31-20 win in the SEC Championship on December 6, 2008, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2009: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Florida Gators gets Gatorade dumped on him by his teammates towards the end of the game against the Oklahoma Sooners in the FedEx BCS National Championship Game at Dolphin Stadium on January 8, 2009, in Miami. The Gators won the game by a score of 24-14. (Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2010: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Florida Gators hoists the trophy after the Gators defeated the Bearcats 24-51 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisana Superdome on January 1, 2010, in New Orleans. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2011: In this handout photo provided by Disney Parks, ESPN college football analyst and former University of Florida football coach, Urban Meyer, "Albert" the University of Florida mascot and Denver Broncos quarterback and former University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow attend "ESPN the Weekend" on March 5, 2011, at Disney's Hollywood Studios Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Mark Ashman/Disney Parks via Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2012: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with his players after beating the Michigan State Spartans 17-16 at Spartan Stadium on September 29, 2012, in East Lansing, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2013: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans shakes hands with head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes after defeating the Buckeyes 34-24 to win the Big 10 Conference Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2013, in Indianapolis. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2014: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes lifts the Stagg Championship Trophy in celebration of his team 59-0 win over the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 6, 2014, in Indianapolis. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2015: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes hoists the trophy after defeating the Oregon Ducks 42-20 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on January 12, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2016: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes holds the Fiesta Bowl trophy after the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2016, in Glendale, Arizona. The Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 44-28. (Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2017: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with the trophy after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017, in Indianapolis. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2018: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes holds the Big Ten Championship trophy after defeating the Northwestern Wildcats during the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 1, 2018, in Indianapolis. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2019: Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer with the Rose Bowl trophy celebrates winning the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2019, in Pasadena, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2020: Jay-Z and Urban Meyer attend Mike Rubin's Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Loews Miami Beach Hotel on February 01, 2020, in Miami Beach, Florida. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Fanatics)
Photos: Urban Meyer through the years 2021: Head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars Urban Meyer looks on during Jacksonville Jaguars Mandatory Minicamp at TIAA Bank Field on June 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Florida. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
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