Urban Meyer apologises to Jacksonville for ‘heartbreaking’ firing by Jaguars after just 13 games | NFL News

Urban Meyer has three national college titles but his job with the Jaguars was his first in the NFL; 57-year-old’s tenure was blighted by controversy and Jacksonville finished 2-11 under his reign; “I just apologise to Jacksonville – it’s heartbreaking,” said Meyer

Urban Meyer’s final game in charge of the Jacksonville Jaguars was a 20-0 defeat to AFC South rivals the Tennessee Titans

In his first public comments since being fired, former Jaguars coach Urban Meyer apologised to the city of Jacksonville, adding that it was “heartbreaking.”

In an interview with NFL Network, Meyer said he was “devastated” how his short tenure ended after a 2-11 record. In its story published on Saturday, NFL Network said the interview took place on Friday.

“I just apologise to Jacksonville,” Meyer told NFL Network. “I love Jacksonville. It’s one of the reasons I took the job.

“I still think Shad (Khan)’s a great owner. It’s heartbreaking. I just had a dream of it becoming a destination place with a new facility he agreed to build and some day to walk into that stadium where it’s standing room only.

“Because I know how bad the people of Jacksonville want it. So I’m just heartbroken that we weren’t able to do that. I still believe it’s going to be done. It’s too good of a place.”

The interview aired several hours after a report that the Jaguars fired Meyer for cause and do not plan on paying him the remainder of his contract.

The Jaguars took quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first pick of the 2021 Draft, but he failed to thrive under Meyer

It is believed Meyer signed a five-year deal worth up to $12m (£9.06m) annually. It is possible the two sides could try to negotiate a contract settlement.

Meyer was fired early Thursday in the aftermath of former kicker Josh Lambo saying Meyer kicked him in August.

But the Jaguars said on Friday that owner Khan had already decided to fire Meyer before the Lambo story came out.

It was one of many missteps that landed Meyer on the wrong side of the headlines, especially his decision not to travel back with the team after a Thursday night loss in October. He was later caught on video getting close to a woman in a bar who was not his wife.

Meyer pushed back on reported dustups with Lambo and wide receiver Marvin Jones, among others, and tried to explain his decision to bench star running back James Robinson during his interview.

Regardless, his NFL debut goes down as an epic failure.

“I tell people, losing eats away at your soul,” Meyer said. “Once you start losing, it’s hard on everybody.

“I thought at one point, when we won two out of three, there was some momentum, great energy, the defense was really playing well.

“We were running the ball and then when that dried up on us, then we started turning the ball over. We had that bye week and then James Robinson gets hurt.”