JACKSONVILLE, Florida — One of the premiere college football coaches of the 2000s is joining the ranks of head coaches in the National Football League. The Jacksonville Jaguars announced Urban Meyer as the team's head coach Thursday evening.

What You Need To Know

  • Urban Meyer is the new coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars

  • The Jaguars finished the 2020 NFL season with a 1-15 record

  • Meyer tallied a 187-32 record in 17 seasons at the college level

Reports indicated Meyer and the Jaguars had been discussing a deal for the past few weeks and that Meyer had been assembling a potential staff in case he accepted the job.

Since leaving the Ohio State Buckeyes after a Rose Bowl win to conclude the 2018 college football season, Meyer was a member of Fox Sports’ Big Noon Kickoff show during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Before joining the media realm, Meyer compiled a 187-32 (85.4 win pct.) in his 17 years as a head coach, including two BCS National Championships at Florida in 2006 and 2008, and the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship in 2014 at Ohio State.

Meyer reportedly left Florida and Ohio State amid health concerns.

Before joining Florida in 2005, he coached at Bowling Green State University (2001-02) and Utah (2003-04).

The Jaguars are looking to return to form. Jacksonville made the AFC Championship 2017, but have totaled a combined 12-36 record since, including a 1-15 record in 2020.

That performance, which included 15 consecutive losses, was enough for Doug Marrone to lose his job, creating the opening.

The 56-year-old Meyer takes over the team No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jacksonville is expected to take Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the runner-up for the 2020 Hesiman Trophy.

The Jaguars are also expected to have more than $70 million in cap space to work with in 2021.