Career Timeline of Urban Meyer: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Urban Meyer built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Urban Meyer is an American sportscaster and former college and professional football coach. He achieved considerable success at the collegiate level, leading Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, and Ohio State. He won two national championships with Florida and one with Ohio State. Meyer retired from coaching in 2019, then briefly coached the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL in 2021. After a short and controversial stint in the NFL, marked by a poor record and off-field incidents, Meyer returned to broadcasting.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1930: Utes' First Perfect Season Since 1930

In 2004, Meyer led the Utes to their first perfect season (12-0) since 1930.

1957: Program's first outright conference championship since 1957

In 2003, Meyer's team won the program's first outright conference championship since the 1957 team won the Skyline Conference title.

1982: Drafted by Atlanta Braves

In 1982, Urban Meyer was selected in the 13th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Atlanta Braves as a shortstop.

1985: Defensive Back Coach Internship

In 1985, Urban Meyer interned as a defensive back coach at Saint Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

1990: Greg Primus Exceeds 1,000 Receiving Yards

In 1990, WR Greg Primus exceeded 1,000 receiving yards while being coached by Urban Meyer at Colorado State.

1990: Inquiry to Nick Saban's Wife for Coaching Position

In 1990, while still the linebacker coach at Illinois State, Urban Meyer called Toledo head coach Nick Saban's home and spoke to Saban's wife to inquire if a position was available.

1992: Greg Primus Exceeds 1,000 Receiving Yards

In 1992, WR Greg Primus exceeded 1,000 receiving yards while being coached by Urban Meyer at Colorado State.

1997: First National Championship Appearance Since 1997

In 2006, Meyer coached the Gators to their first national championship appearance and victory since winning the 1997 Sugar Bowl.

1998: First BCS bid since 1998

In 2004, Meyer led the Utes to a Bowl Championship Series bid, something that had not been done by a team from a non-automatically qualifying BCS conference since the formation of the BCS in 1998.

2000: Coached David Givens at Notre Dame

In 2000, Urban Meyer coached WR David Givens at Notre Dame. Givens would later be drafted by the New England Patriots.

2001: Bowling Green Falcons Head Coach

In 2001, Urban Meyer became the head coach of the Bowling Green Falcons.

2001: Took First Head Coaching Job at Bowling Green

In 2001, Urban Meyer took his first head coaching job at Bowling Green and engineered one of the greatest turnarounds in NCAA football history, going 8–3.

2001: BCS Bowl Berth Since 2001

In 2006, Meyer coached the Gators to their first BCS bowl berth since the Orange Bowl that capped off the 2001 campaign.

2002: Bowling Green Falcons Head Coach

In 2002, Urban Meyer continued his role as the head coach of the Bowling Green Falcons.

2003: Utah Utes Head Coach

In 2003, Urban Meyer became the head coach of the Utah Utes.

2003: Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year

In 2003, Urban Meyer was named the Mountain West Conference's Coach of the Year with a 10–2 record while coaching at Utah. He was also named The Sporting News National Coach of the Year.

2003: Alex Smith's Performance

In 2003, Utes quarterback Alex Smith threw for 2,247 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 452 yards with five touchdowns under Urban Meyer.

2004: Utah Utes Head Coach

In 2004, Urban Meyer continued his role as the head coach of the Utah Utes.

2004: BCS Bid and Fiesta Bowl Win

In 2004, Urban Meyer led the undefeated Utes to a Bowl Championship Series bid and a Fiesta Bowl win over Pittsburgh, capping off their first perfect season (12–0) since 1930.

2004: Alex Smith's Performance

In 2004, Utes quarterback Alex Smith threw for 2,952 yards with 32 touchdowns and ran for 631 yards with 10 touchdowns under Urban Meyer.

2005: Alex Smith Enters NFL Draft

In 2005, Alex Smith's performance in Meyer's offensive scheme was a large reason why Smith was considered a first-round pick entering the 2005 NFL draft.

2005: Becomes Florida's Head Coach

In 2005, Urban Meyer became Florida's head coach, signing a seven-year contract worth $14 million.

2005: Florida Gators Head Coach

In 2005, Urban Meyer became the head coach of the Florida Gators.

2005: First Season at Florida

In 2005, Urban Meyer's first season at Florida, the Gators finished the season 9–3 with an undefeated record at home and a bowl victory against Iowa in the Outback Bowl.

2006: BCS National Championship Game Victory

In 2006, Urban Meyer coached the Florida Gators to a BCS National Championship Game victory.

2006: SEC Championship and BCS National Championship

In 2006, Urban Meyer coached the Gators to a 13-1 record, winning the SEC Championship Game against Arkansas and defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game.

June 7, 2007: Contract Extension with Gators

On June 7, 2007, Urban Meyer signed a six-year contract extension with the Florida Gators, paying an average of $3.25 million per year.

2007: BCS National Championship Win

In 2007, Urban Meyer coached the Florida Gators to a BCS National Championship victory against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

2007: 9-3 Regular Season Record in 2007

In 2007, the Gators managed a 9–3 regular season record, including blowout wins over rivals Tennessee and FSU but once again losing to Auburn. During his tenure at the University of Florida, Coach Meyer never defeated Auburn.

January 1, 2008: Capital One Bowl Loss

On January 1, 2008, the Gators lost the Capital One Bowl to Michigan 41–35. Meyer also served as an analyst for the 2008 BCS National Championship Game.

September 27, 2008: Loss to Ole Miss

On September 27, 2008, Florida suffered a loss to Ole Miss despite leading in time of possession and passing yards; however, Florida had three turnovers during the game.

December 6, 2008: Victory over Alabama in SEC Championship

On December 6, 2008, Urban Meyer led the Florida Gators to a 31–20 victory over top-ranked Alabama in the SEC title game. The Gators rallied from behind after a third-quarter deficit and held Alabama scoreless in the fourth quarter.

2008: Second BCS National Championship Game Victory

In 2008, Urban Meyer coached the Florida Gators to another BCS National Championship Game victory.

January 8, 2009: BCS Championship Win

On January 8, 2009, Urban Meyer won the BCS Championship game, moving him past Bob Stoops in winning percentage among Division I coaches.

July 2009: Denial of Leaving Florida for Notre Dame

According to a July 2009 newspaper report, Urban Meyer insisted he would never leave Florida for Notre Dame, despite considering the Notre Dame job his "dream job".

August 3, 2009: Another Contract Extension

On August 3, 2009, Urban Meyer received another contract extension, making him the SEC's highest-paid coach during the 2009 season, worth $24 million over six years.

November 2009: Press Conference to Dispel Rumors

In November 2009, when Charlie Weis's employment status came into question, Urban Meyer held a press conference to dispel rumors linking him to the possible opening, stating he would remain at Florida.

December 26, 2009: Resignation Announcement

On December 26, 2009, Urban Meyer announced he would resign from his position following the team's bowl game against Cincinnati, citing health concerns.

2009: 2009 Season and SEC Championship Loss

In 2009, Meyer's Gators began the season ranked No. 1. Despite struggles on offense and a concussion suffered by Tim Tebow, Florida finished the regular season 12–0 and still ranked No. 1, but lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.

2009: Highest Winning Percentage

Through the conclusion of the 2009 season, Urban Meyer's winning percentage (.842) was the highest among active coaches with a minimum of five full seasons at a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program.

January 1, 2010: Sugar Bowl Victory and Coaching Plans

On January 1, 2010, Urban Meyer coached the Gators in their 51–24 Sugar Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats. After the game, he suggested that he would return to coach the Gators.

March 17, 2010: Resumption of Coaching Duties

On March 17, 2010, Urban Meyer resumed his coaching duties in time for the beginning of the Gators' spring practice, after announcing an indefinite leave of absence the previous day.

September 25, 2010: 100th Career Win

On September 25, 2010, with a victory over Kentucky, Urban Meyer achieved his 100th career win as a coach, with a record of 100–18 over 10 seasons.

December 8, 2010: Resignation Announcement

On December 8, 2010, Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley announced Meyer's resignation, stating that Meyer would remain as the head coach through the Gators' appearance in the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2011.

2010: Sugar Bowl Victory

In 2010, Florida was selected to play the undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl. The Gators won 51–24 to finish the season with a 13–1 record for the second consecutive year.

2010: Florida Gators Head Coach

In 2010, Urban Meyer continued his role as the head coach of the Florida Gators.

2010: Indefinite Leave of Absence

In 2010, specifically on December 27, Urban Meyer announced that he would take an indefinite leave of absence instead of resigning. He was unsure if he would return for the 2010 season.

January 1, 2011: Outback Bowl Appearance

On January 1, 2011, Urban Meyer coached the Gators in the Outback Bowl, marking his final game as head coach of the Florida Gators.

November 17, 2011: Eleven Warriors Report of Ohio State Head Coach Position

On November 17, 2011, Eleven Warriors reported that Meyer would become the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, which Meyer initially denied.

November 28, 2011: Acceptance of Ohio State Head Coach Position

On November 28, 2011, Urban Meyer accepted the head coach position at Ohio State University.

2011: College Football Analyst for ESPN

Following his temporary retirement in 2011, Urban Meyer worked as a college football analyst for the television sports network ESPN before joining Ohio State as head coach.

2012: Ohio State Buckeyes Head Coach

In 2012, Urban Meyer became the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

2014: Ohio State's Season and NFL Draft

In 2014, Ohio State finished #12 in the BCS rankings with a 12–2 record. The team lost talent to the 2014 NFL Draft, including Ryan Shazier, Bradley Roby, and Carlos Hyde.

2014: Big Ten Conference Title and National Championship

In 2014, Urban Meyer led the Buckeyes to their first Big Ten Conference title and the program's eighth national championship.

April 13, 2015: Contract Extension with Ohio State

On April 13, 2015, it was reported that Urban Meyer signed a contract extension with the Buckeyes through 2020.

August 1, 2018: Administrative Leave by Ohio State

On August 1, 2018, Urban Meyer was placed on paid administrative leave by Ohio State following reports that he knew about spousal abuse allegations against assistant coach Zach Smith.

December 4, 2018: Retirement Announcement

On December 4, 2018, Urban Meyer announced his retirement from coaching following the team's Rose Bowl game due to health reasons. Ryan Day was announced as his successor.

2018: Ohio State Buckeyes Head Coach

In 2018, Urban Meyer continued his role as the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

2019: Rose Bowl Berth

In 2019, Ohio State finished the year with a 12–1 record and won the Big Ten conference but was not selected for the College Football Playoff, instead receiving a spot in the 2019 Rose Bowl.

2019: Retirement and Analyst Role

In 2019, Urban Meyer retired from coaching after the Rose Bowl and became an assistant athletic director at Ohio State and an analyst for Fox Sports on their Big Noon Kickoff pregame show.

January 14, 2021: Hired by Jacksonville Jaguars

On January 14, 2021, Urban Meyer was hired to become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

December 16, 2021: Firing from Jacksonville Jaguars

On December 16, 2021, Jaguars owner Shahid Khan fired Urban Meyer from his position following public accusations of physical abuse by former Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo.

2021: Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach and Firing

In 2021, Urban Meyer came out of retirement to become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL, but was fired after 13 games due to controversies and a 2-11 record.