Jaguars' Urban Meyer vows to rebuild trust amongst his team

After viral video incident, an apology and then a second video, the Jaguars coach has a tough road ahead when it comes to regaining his credibility.

Jaguars Meyer vows to win back trust

On Tuesday the Jaguars coach Urban Meyer pledged to regain the confidence, trust and respect of everyone in the organization. In the wake of a public reproach by owner Shad Khan, Meyer was resolute in his desire to rebuild. "I made a comment when I got here about the logo, about an owner who wants to win in the worst way," Meyer said. "That's one of the reasons I came here. I just, I admire that guy so much. ... And so, that's what makes me so angry at myself that I lived that, I believe that and I failed. ...And I've got to get it back, and I will."

For more from around the NFL

Meyer, had previously apologized during a press conference on Monday stating that he accompanied his family to a restaurant that he owns - Urban Meyer's Pint House. It was at the restaurant that Meyer alleges that patrons from a nearby table asked to take photos with him, even trying to get him to dance with them. Later a nine-second video showing Meyer sitting with his back to the bar while a young woman danced close to his lap was posted to social media Saturday night. It was just an hour later, however, that a second video went public in which Meyer can be seen groping the woman's bottom. The woman appears to be wearing the same clothes as the woman in the first video.

Jaguars owner makes his feelings known

In the wake of the public scrutiny, owner Shad Khan gave a statement saying, "I have addressed this matter with Urban. Specifics of our conversation will be held in confidence," Khan said in a statement released on Tuesday morning. "What I will say is his conduct last weekend was inexcusable. I appreciate Urban's remorse, which I believe is sincere. Now, he must regain our trust and respect. That will require a personal commitment from Urban to everyone who supports, represents or plays for our team. I am confident he will deliver."

Urban Meyer looks forward

Speaking on the road ahead Meyer reiterated once again that he was unsure as to how the whole incident would affect his capacity to lead the team. "The fact that I became a distraction, I've got to earn their trust back from that," Meyer said. The Jaguars are curently 0-4 having lost 19 consecutive games dating all the way back to a victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the 2020 season opener. They will play host to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday and will undoubtedly be hoping to beat a team that they have lost to on the last eight consecutive occasions that they have met. Should they lose on Sunday they will achieve the second longest losing streak in NFL history.

Speaking on how he hoped to turn things around, Meyer cited his team captains and the importance of the roles they would play righting the ship in the coming weeks. "I don't believe that's in my court," he said.

"The leaders on the team are going to make that decision. It depends on how much trust you have built up with them, how we structure everything this week and focus on winning that game. I'm going to be extremely clear as I can: Our staff is working their tails off. But you know as well as I do that the ownership of this team is with the players.''