5 steps Jaguars must take after cutting ties with Urban Meyer

And just like that, the Urban Meyer era is over. Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan announced the team had fired the embattled head coach after less than a year on the job. The decision doesn’t come as a surprise as Meyer couldn’t make the jump from the collegiate level to the pros.

That was just the tip of the iceberg though, as Meyer allowed a toxic work environment to fester in Jacksonville, which left Khan with no choice but to cut the ties with him. In order to erase the stink that Meyer’s tenure left on the team, the Jaguars will need to take these five steps over the following months.

1. Jaguars need to build back relationships with players.

Urban Meyer’s coaching style wasn’t fit for the pros. Based on several reports that surfaced during his stint in Jacksonville, he didn’t respect the players he worked with. While some will react positively to tough coaching others need a more personal approach. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all style and Meyer failed to realize that.

Players aren’t going to speak up while they’re playing for the team, as they run the risk of facing retaliation. Meyer himself said whoever leaked something would be immediately unemployed. With him gone, there should be a sense of relief in the locker room but there’s a good chance the morale is not at an optimal level. That’s where the organization must step in. General manager Trent Baalke and owner Shad Khan must ask players what their thoughts were, what needs to change, what the leadership can do better. After all, players are the frontline workers of an NFL team.

The Jaguars are going to have their third head coach in as many years. Don’t you think players are tired of the turnover? Some of them are surely burnt out after all the turnover the team has undergone in the last few months. Khan must address the team and make sure they bring in the right man to lead them next year.