The Jacksonville Jaguars “will likely” fire head coach Doug Marrone after Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, with former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer his possible replacement, NFL Network reported Saturday.
The potential firing, however, comes with a wait-and-see approach. Reports last year also suggested that Marrone would be fired after the season and that personnel move never came to fruition.
The Jaguars have gone 1-14 this season, far worse than their 6-10 mark of a season ago. In four-plus seasons under the 56-year-old Marrone, Jacksonville is 23-42. He was hired after Week 14 of the 2016 season.
The Jaguars did win the AFC South in 2017, Marrone’s first full season, and won a pair of playoff games before falling 24-20 to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
The Jaguars are on the verge of landing the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, and the potential hiring of Meyer would be interesting timing. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been predicted as the No. 1 overall selection, although Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields could be Jacksonville’s desired pick.
Fields was recruited to Ohio State by Meyer. Ohio State and Fields defeated Clemson and Lawrence 49-28 in Friday’s CFP Semifinal and will face Alabama in the championship game on Jan. 11 at Miami Gardens, Fla.
Meyer, 56, went 83-9 in his seven years at Ohio State, leaving after the 2018 season for health reasons. Ryan Day took over as head coach of the Buckeyes. Day is also considered “a potential target” of the Jaguars if Meyer elects to stay retired, NFL Network reported.
Meyer was 187-32 overall going back to 2001 with head coaching jobs at Bowling Green (2001-02), Utah (2003-04), Florida (2005-10) and Ohio State (2012-18).
