NFL
Jaguars' head coach Urban Meyer apologizes after viral video
Coach Meyer was sitting at the bar in his own restaurant when the incident was recorded.
The Jaguars coach finds himself in hot water after the loss to the Bengals but the reason isn't football related.
Urban Meyer apologizes for viral video
Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer said Monday that he had apologized to his team, family, and owner Shad Khan after a video apparently showing a young woman dancing close to his lap went viral over the weekend.
Meyer, 57 was at his own restaurant in Columbus, Ohio at the time. He again reiterated his regret in a team meeting on Monday. The head coach also repeated several times that it was simply stupid to put himself in such a scenario just a day after his team lost to Cincinnati 24-21.
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"I just apologized to the team and staff for being a distraction," Meyer said. "Just stupid, and so I explained everything that happened and owned it. Just stupid. Should not have myself in that kind of position." It is understood that Meyer did not return with the team after last Thursday's game, but instead went to visit his grandchildren in Columbus subsequently going to his own restaurant - Urban Meyer's Pint House - while there.
Meyer gives his version of events
"There was a big group next [to] our restaurant and they wanted me to come over and take pictures, and I did," Meyer stated. "They were trying to pull me out on the dance floor, screwing around, and I should have left." Meyer added that his family was indeed upset after the nine second video showing a young woman dancing close to him was widely circulated on social media. In addition to the the first video, there was in fact a second which was made public shortly after Meyer's press conference on Monday.
In the video Meyer appears to be touching a young woman's bottom. The young woman appears to be dressed in the same clothes as the woman in the first video.
The Jaguars are behind their coach
Speaking on the reception his players and staff gave to the news, Meyer said they were all supportive including owner Shad Khan. "I've always been so defensive of them [the players]," Meyer said. "I remember when Trevor [Lawrence] told me he was going to go to Vegas for his bachelor party. I was just like, 'My gosh, man, be careful and surround yourself because I've seen this happen.' "The team, I spoke to a bunch of leaders one-on-one, spoke to all the players. They're good. They're focused on Tennessee. I apologized again for being a distraction. A coach should not be a distraction."
In his first year as Jaguars coach, Meyer admitted that he's unsure as to how the incident will affect his credibility with the team going forward. "I am concerned about that. I have a very good relationship with our players," Meyer said. "I've dealt with this, not on the other side but with staff members and with other things, and I've dealt with it. So to say I'm concerned, yeah I am concerned, but I just got to do right."
Urban Meyer isn't a stranger to controversy
This is in fact not the first time that Meyer has draw negative attention to himself. The coach hired Chris Doyle - former coach at Iowa - who was accused of making racist remarks to players at the university. Doyle subsequently resigned one day after his hiring was announced as the team came under heavy criticism.
At present the Jaguars 0-4 which includes a loss on opening day to the Houston Texans who are regarded as the worst team in the NFL. There last victory dates back to a win over the Indianapolis Colts in the 2020 season opener. They will host Tennessee next Sunday.