Urban Meyer is a prominent figure in American football, having transitioned from a successful college coaching career to sports broadcasting and a brief, controversial stint in the NFL. He achieved notable success coaching college teams like Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, and Ohio State, leading the Gators and Buckeyes to national championships. After retiring from college coaching in 2019, he joined Fox Sports as an analyst. In 2021, Meyer became the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars but was fired after a tumultuous season marked by poor performance and off-field issues. He subsequently returned to his role at Fox Sports. Meyer's career has been a mix of triumphs and controversies, solidifying his place as a recognizable name in the world of football.
1930: Utah's Previous Undefeated Season
The last time Utah had a perfect season before Meyer's arrival was in 1930.
1945: Bud Wilkinson's 100th Win
Bud Wilkinson reached 100 career wins in 1945, a milestone that Meyer's achievement was compared to.
1957: Utah's Previous Conference Championship
The 1957 Utah team won the Skyline Conference title, marking the program's first outright conference championship before Meyer's arrival.
July 10, 1964: Birth of Urban Meyer
Urban Frank Meyer III was born on July 10, 1964, in Toledo, Ohio.
1986: Marriage to Shelley Mather
Urban Meyer married Shelley Mather, whom he met at the University of Cincinnati, in 1986.
1986: College Graduation
Urban Meyer received his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Cincinnati in 1986.
1988: Master's Degree Completion
Urban Meyer completed his master's degree in sports administration from Ohio State University in 1988.
1990: Coaching at Colorado State and Contacting Nick Saban
In 1990, while coaching at Colorado State, Meyer contacted Nick Saban about a potential coaching opportunity, but Saban did not return his call.
1990: Contacting Nick Saban about a Position
While a linebacker coach at Illinois State in 1990, Meyer contacted Nick Saban, then head coach at Toledo, inquiring about a coaching position. Saban did not return the call.
1992: Continued Coaching at Colorado State
Meyer's coaching tenure at Colorado State continued until 1992.
1997: Florida's Previous National Championship
Prior to 2007, Florida's last national championship victory was in the 1997 Sugar Bowl.
1998: BCS Formation
The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) was formed in 1998, changing the landscape of college football postseason play.
2000: Coaching at Notre Dame
By 2000, Meyer was coaching at Notre Dame.
2000: Bowling Green's 2-9 Season
In 2000, Bowling Green finished with a 2-9 record before Meyer's arrival.
2001: Gators' Previous BCS Bowl Berth
The Gators' appearance in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game was their first BCS bowl berth since the 2001 Orange Bowl.
2001: Bowling Green Falcons Head Coach
Urban Meyer began his head coaching career at Bowling Green in 2001, leading the team to an 8-3 record and earning Mid-American Conference coach of the year honors.
2001: Josh Harris's Part-Time Play at Bowling Green
In 2001, QB Josh Harris had a significant impact on Bowling Green's turnaround under Meyer, showcasing skills that Meyer would later utilize in quarterbacks like Alex Smith and Tim Tebow.
2001: First Head Coaching Position at Bowling Green
In 2001, Meyer took his first head coaching position at Bowling Green, leading a significant turnaround and achieving an 8-3 record. He also earned Mid-American Conference coach of the year honors.
2002: Second Season at Bowling Green
In 2002, Meyer coached Bowling Green to a 9-3 record, improving on their previous season's success.
2003: Urban Meyer's Success at Utah
In 2003, Urban Meyer began his tenure at Utah and was named the Mountain West Conference's Coach of the Year with a 10-2 record. He also received The Sporting News National Coach of the Year award.
2003: Alex Smith's Performance Under Meyer (2003)
In 2003, Utah quarterback Alex Smith thrived under Meyer's coaching, throwing for 2,247 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also rushing for 452 yards and five touchdowns.
2003: Utah Utes Head Coach
Urban Meyer became the head coach of the Utah Utes in 2003.
2004: Alex Smith's Performance Under Meyer (2004)
In 2004, Alex Smith's performance improved further, with 2,952 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 631 rushing yards, and 10 rushing touchdowns.
2004: Undefeated Season and Fiesta Bowl Victory
In 2004, Meyer led the Utes to an undefeated season (12-0), culminating in a Fiesta Bowl win over Pittsburgh. This was the first BCS bid for a non-automatically qualifying conference team since 1998 and Utah's first perfect season since 1930.
2004: College Football Coach of the Year Recognition
In 2004, Meyer was recognized as college football coach of the year.
2004: Utah Utes Success and Coach of the Year
Meyer continued as the head coach of the Utes in 2004 and received both the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year and Home Depot Coach of the Year Award.
2005: Florida Gators Head Coach
Urban Meyer took on the head coaching role at the University of Florida in 2005.
2005: Meyer Becomes Florida's Head Coach
Urban Meyer became Florida's head coach in 2005, signing a seven-year, $14 million contract.
2005: Alex Smith's NFL Draft Prospect Status
Alex Smith's success in Meyer's offensive system contributed to his status as a first-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.
2005: Meyer's First Season at Florida
In 2005, Meyer's first season at Florida resulted in a 9-3 record, including an undefeated home record and an Outback Bowl victory against Iowa. However, they missed the SEC Championship Game after losing to South Carolina.
2006: First BCS National Championship at Florida
In 2006, Urban Meyer led the Florida Gators to victory in the BCS National Championship Game.
2006: SEC Championship and National Championship Appearance
In 2006, the Gators, under Meyer, went 13-1, winning the SEC Championship against Arkansas.
June 7, 2007: Contract Extension with Florida
On June 7, 2007, Meyer signed a six-year contract extension with Florida, averaging $3.25 million per year.
2007: Gators' 9-3 Season and Tebow's Heisman
In 2007, the Gators finished with a 9-3 record, with Tim Tebow winning the Heisman Trophy. However, defensive struggles prevented them from reaching a BCS bowl game, and they lost the Capital One Bowl to Michigan.
2007: National Championship Victory
The Gators defeated Ohio State in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game, securing their first national championship since 1997.
2007: Comparison to Cam Cameron's Tenure
Urban Meyer's short and unsuccessful tenure with the Jaguars in 2021 drew comparisons to Cam Cameron's similarly poor performance with the Miami Dolphins in 2007.
January 1, 2008: Capital One Bowl Loss and Meyer's Analyst Role
The Gators lost the Capital One Bowl to Michigan on January 1, 2008. Meyer served as a pre-game and halftime analyst for the 2008 BCS National Championship Game.
September 27, 2008: Loss to Ole Miss
The Gators suffered their only defeat of the 2008 season against Ole Miss on September 27, 2008, despite leading in time of possession and passing yards.
2008: Second BCS National Championship at Florida
Urban Meyer led the Florida Gators to their second BCS National Championship Game victory in 2008.
January 8, 2009: BCS Championship Victory and Ranking Milestone
On January 8, 2009, Meyer led Florida to a BCS Championship victory, surpassing Bob Stoops for second place among active Division I coaches ranked by winning percentage.
July 2009: Notre Dame "Dream Job" Speculation
In July 2009, Meyer addressed speculation about his interest in the Notre Dame coaching position, stating that it was his "dream job" but insisting he wouldn't leave Florida for it.
August 3, 2009: Another Contract Extension and Highest-Paid SEC Coach
On August 3, 2009, Meyer received another contract extension worth $24 million over six years, making him the highest-paid coach in the SEC and the third highest-paid college football coach at the time.
November 2009: Reaffirmation of Commitment to Florida
In November 2009, amidst further rumors about his potential departure to Notre Dame, Meyer held a press conference to affirm his commitment to Florida.
December 6, 2009: Meyer's Hospitalization
On December 6, 2009, following the SEC Championship Game loss, Meyer was hospitalized for chest pains and dehydration.
December 2009: First Retirement Announcement
In December 2009, Urban Meyer first announced his retirement from coaching, citing family and health concerns. This followed a challenging season for the Florida Gators, with their worst record during Meyer's time there.
December 26, 2009: Resignation Announcement and Subsequent Reversal
On December 26, 2009, Meyer announced his resignation from Florida, but reversed his decision the following day, opting for an indefinite leave of absence instead.
2009: Undefeated Regular Season and SEC Championship Loss
In 2009, the Gators had an undefeated regular season but lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
2009: High Winning Percentage at Florida
By the end of the 2009 season, Urban Meyer held the highest winning percentage among active coaches with at least five full seasons at an FBS program.
January 1, 2010: Sugar Bowl Victory and Meyer's Intention to Return
Following the Gators' Sugar Bowl win on January 1, 2010, Meyer reiterated his intention to return as their coach.
March 17, 2010: Return from Leave of Absence
Meyer returned to his coaching duties at Florida on March 17, 2010, after a leave of absence.
September 2010: Chris Rainey Incident and Meyer's Response
In September 2010, Meyer addressed the arrest of Gator receiver Chris Rainey for sending a threatening text message. Meyer expressed his disappointment and emphasized the need to address such issues within the program.
September 25, 2010: Meyer's 100th Career Win
On September 25, 2010, Meyer achieved his 100th career win against Kentucky, becoming the sixth fastest NCAA coach to reach this milestone.
December 8, 2010: Resignation Announcement from Florida
On December 8, 2010, Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley announced Meyer's resignation, which would become effective after the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2011.
2010: Sugar Bowl Victory
Florida defeated Cincinnati in the 2010 Sugar Bowl, finishing the season with a 13-1 record.
2010: Temporary Retirement and Return at Florida
In 2010, Meyer announced his resignation from Florida due to health concerns, but later rescinded and took a leave of absence instead. He returned to coaching duties later in the year.
2010: Meyer's Leave of Absence
Meyer announced an indefinite leave of absence in 2010, uncertain about his return for the upcoming season but expressing hope that he would coach the Gators again.
January 1, 2011: Last Game at Florida
On January 1, 2011, Meyer coached his last game for the Florida Gators in the Outback Bowl.
November 17, 2011: Ohio State Coaching Rumors
On November 17, 2011, reports emerged linking Urban Meyer to the head coaching position at Ohio State. Meyer initially denied these reports but fueled speculation by requesting to be removed from broadcasting duties during the Ohio State-Michigan game that weekend.
November 28, 2011: Acceptance of Ohio State Head Coaching Position
On November 28, 2011, Meyer accepted the position as head coach of Ohio State University.
2011: Temporary Retirement and Work at ESPN
In 2011, Meyer took a temporary retirement from coaching and worked as a college football analyst for ESPN.
2012: Ohio State Buckeyes Head Coach
Urban Meyer became the head coach at Ohio State University in 2012.
2014: Ohio State's 2014 Season and NFL Draft
In 2014, Ohio State finished with a 12-2 record and the #12 ranking in the BCS. The team also saw several key players drafted into the NFL, including Ryan Shazier, Bradley Roby, and Carlos Hyde.
2014: Big Ten Title and National Championship at Ohio State
Urban Meyer coached Ohio State to their first Big Ten Conference title under his leadership and also secured the program's eighth national championship in 2014.
April 13, 2015: Ohio State Contract Extension
On April 13, 2015, Urban Meyer signed a contract extension with Ohio State, extending his tenure through 2020.
August 1, 2018: Placed on Administrative Leave
On August 1, 2018, Urban Meyer was placed on paid administrative leave by Ohio State following reports that he had prior knowledge of domestic abuse allegations against assistant coach Zach Smith.
December 4, 2018: Second Retirement Announcement
On December 4, 2018, Urban Meyer announced his retirement from coaching, effective after the Rose Bowl game, citing health reasons. Ryan Day was named as his successor.
2018: End of Tenure at Ohio State
Meyer's tenure as head coach at Ohio State concluded in 2018.
2019: Ohio State's 2019 Season and Rose Bowl Appearance
In 2019, Ohio State finished the season with a 12-1 record and won the Big Ten conference championship. However, they were not selected for the College Football Playoff and instead played in the Rose Bowl.
2019: Retirement from Coaching and Transition to Broadcasting
In 2019, Urban Meyer officially retired from coaching after the Rose Bowl. He moved into a role as assistant athletic director at Ohio State and joined Fox Sports as an analyst.
2020: End of Initial Ohio State Contract
2020 marked the end of Urban Meyer's initial contract extension with Ohio State, signed in 2015.
January 14, 2021: Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach
On January 14, 2021, Urban Meyer was hired as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
July 1, 2021: NFL Fine
On July 1, 2021, the NFL fined Urban Meyer $100,000 for violating practice rules during organized team activities.
December 16, 2021: Firing from Jaguars
On December 16, 2021, Urban Meyer was fired by the Jacksonville Jaguars following allegations of physical abuse from former kicker Josh Lambo and reports of Meyer's strained relationships with players and staff.
2021: Criticism and Job Security Concerns
During the 2021 season, Urban Meyer faced criticism from players and coaches regarding his treatment of them. Despite this, the Jaguars initially affirmed their support for Meyer and his job security.
2021: Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach and Return to Broadcasting
Meyer returned to coaching in 2021 with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL but was fired during the season. He returned to Fox Sports to continue his broadcasting career.
January 26, 2022: Public Reflection on Jaguars Tenure
On January 26, 2022, Urban Meyer publicly discussed his time with the Jaguars, describing it as the worst professional experience of his life and citing the losing streak and the transition from college to professional football as contributing factors. He also mentioned experiencing depression during this period.
2025: College Football Hall of Fame Induction
Urban Meyer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2025.