Urban Meyer burst into a room full of players at the Jaguars’ facility. He was furious.
Meyer was furious that one of his players had missed a preseason assignment, which led to a blown play. Meyer was angry when it happened. He was still fuming the next day. Meyer warned that he would rip every one of them if the same mistake was made again.
“And do you know what would happen if I cut you guys?” Meyer said, according to four people in the room. “You couldn’t get a job paying more than $15 an hour.”
Some people were offended and angry at the suggestion that his players could only play football. “I lost all respect for him after that,” a veteran player in the room said.
Meyer arrived in Jacksonville having a mixed resume. Meyer had won national championships at Florida State and Ohio State. But he brought much more baggage. This included harsh treatment of players, staff, and mishandling. Domestic-abuse allegations against one of his longest-tenured assistantsZach Smith.
Meyer was a perfectionist and control freak, according to his family and friends over the years. As he rose up the ranks, he earned a reputation for being a hard-core, win-at-all costs coach who, By his own admission, was “addicted” to victory. However, Jacksonville’s coaches, players, staff and officials claim Meyer crossed the line between tough and demanding to being demeaning, belittling and leading by fear.
“The most toxic environment I’ve ever been a part of,” a veteran member of the football operations staff said. “By far. Not even close.”
D.J.