Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence seemed pretty fed up with the never-ending drama in Jacksonville – even before head coach Urban Meyer was fired early Thursday.
Hours before Jaguars owner Shad Khan announced Meyer’s dismissal after a tumultuous 12 months, Lawrence said Wednesday that the focus needed to go back to what was happening on the field instead of the constant chatter off of it.
“You’re always going to have some form of drama. I’ve learned that the NFL is just more drama in general than college, no matter where you’re at,” the 22-year-old rookie told reporters on Wednesday. “But you’re right. There’s been a lot. To your point, I do think that has to change and that’s something that we need to work on for sure.
“So you can’t always be in the headlines. You just got to go play football and that’s where we’re trying to get and I have no doubt we’ll get there, but for sure [it has to change].”
In the days leading up to Meyer’s firing, the embattled coach came under fire following an NFL.com report that detailed trouble in Jacksonville, including accusations that he belittled his assistant coaches. On Sunday, when the Jaguars dropped to 2-11 following a loss to the Titans, Meyer barely acknowledged Tennessee’s Mike Vrabel for a post-game handshake, which naturally went viral on social media.
Meyer then quickly found himself at the center of yet another scandal Wednesday when he was accused of kicking former Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo at an August practice.
“I’m in a lunge position. Left leg forward, right leg back,” Lambo recalled to the Tampa Bay Times. “… Urban Meyer, while I’m in that stretch position, comes up to me and says, ‘Hey Dips—t, make your f—king kicks!’ And kicks me in the leg.”
Khan announced Meyer’s firing hours after the piece went live.
“After deliberation over many weeks and a thorough analysis of the entirety of Urban’s tenure with our team, I am bitterly disappointed to arrive at the conclusion that an immediate change is imperative for everyone,” Khan said in a statement.
Khan later referenced Meyer’s Ohio blunder in the fall, when he opted not to fly home with the team but instead partied in a bar with a woman who was not his wife.
“As I stated in October, regaining our trust and respect was essential. Regrettably, it did not happen,” Khan continued.
As for Lawrence, this year’s first overall pick who has also struggled on the NFL stage, he will now be under the guidance of interim head coach Darrell Bevell, who was previously the offensive coordinator.
The Jaguars will play the Texans on Sunday at home.