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Urban Meyer fired: 5 candidates for Jaguars next head coach

By Matt Verderame

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Jacksonville Jaguars reacts during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at TIAA Bank Field on November 28, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Jacksonville Jaguars reacts during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at TIAA Bank Field on November 28, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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The Jacksonville Jaguars fired head coach Urban Meyer early Thursday morning. After the season concludes, here are five potential replacements for him.

It lasted 13 games.

Not even a season into one of the most embarrassing head-coaching tenures the NFL has ever seen, Urban Meyer has been fired by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Meyer, 57, came out of retirement after winning three National Championships at the collegiate level with Florida and Ohio State.

Turns out, he should have stayed there.

With Jacksonville, Meyer only won two games, finished with a 2-11 mark. During his tenure, Meyer was fined for breaking OTA rules and had an infamous incident in October, where he was videotaped dancing in an aggressive manner with a woman who was not his wife after deciding not to fly home with the Jaguars following a Thursday night loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Now that Meyer is gone, offensive coordinator Darrel Bevell will serve as the interim head coach for the final four games of the campaign. Once this season mercifully ends for Jacksonville, these five names will be candidates for the position.

Who will be the Jacksonville Jaguars next head coach?

5. Brian Daboll, OC, Buffalo Bills

Daboll has lost a little of his luster with the Bills struggling at 7-6, but he’s still one of the league’s better offensive minds. He also turned Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen into one of the NFL’s best passers after struggling early in his career. If Daboll can get the best out of rookie Trevor Lawrence, the hiring is already a success.

4. Eric Bieniemy, OC, Kansas City Chiefs

Bieniemy has rightfully been a very hot name for years, only to be continuously passed over. If he interviews for the position and Jacksonville offers him the job, it’s hard seeing the 52-year-old Louisiana native turning it down. For the former NFL running back, it would be the chance he’s been waiting far too long for.

3. Kellen Moore, OC, Dallas Cowboys

Would Moore be willing to leave the Cowboys for the mess in Jacksonville? Maybe. Moore would have a potential franchise quarterback, a stable of solid weapons and a team about to have another very high draft pick. Oh, and no state income tax.

2. Jim Caldwell, former head coach

Caldwell deserves another chance. After stops with the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions, the 66-year-old sports a 62-50 record with a Super Bowl appearance. Not bad. Caldwell is older but with Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll coaching into their early 70s, perhaps Jacksonville owner Shad Khan would be willing to go said route.

1. Byron Leftwich, OC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Leftwich makes the most sense in a variety of ways. He played for the Jaguars after being a first-round pick from 2003-06. As a coordinator, he won the Super Bowl last season and has the Buccaneers primed for another run. At only 41 years old, Leftwich could be the long-term answer for a franchise that hasn’t found real success in almost two decades.

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