Meyer discusses the possibility of returning to Florida

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Urban Meyer discusses the possibility of returning to Florida as coach

Updated: Sep. 18, 2024, 1:02 p.m.|Published: Sep. 18, 2024, 12:38 p.m.

2–3 minutes

Urban Meyer, shown here as Florida's coach in 2010, said Wednesday he has no interest in returning to the Gators as head coach if Billy Napier is fired. (Bill Haber/AP photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS

By

Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com

It seems like only a matter of time before Florida fires Billy Napier, but it appears one man who won’t be replacing him as Gators football coach is Urban Meyer.

The former Florida and Ohio State coach addressed rumors about his potential candidacy during Wednesday’s Triple Option podcast with Fox Sports colleagues Rob Stone and Mark Ingram. Meyer — the Gators’ coach from 2005-10 — said flatly it’s not going to happen.

That ship has sailed,” Meyer said, via On3. “I want that program to do well, so bad. I know so many people there and we gave a big part of our life to that program. But that ship has sailed.”

The 60-year-old Meyer has been out of coaching since his failed 2021 stint with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, when he went 2-11 and was fired before the season even ended. He was much more successful as a college coach, going 187-32 overall with a pair of national championships at Florida (2006 and 2008) and another at Ohio State (2014).

It’s not clear if Florida would even be interested in bringing back Meyer as coach. However, the door never seems fully closed with Meyer, who has publicly denied his interest in jobs in the past before eventually taking them.

Florida is 1-2 this season, with embarrassing home losses to Miami and Texas A&M. The Gators travel to Mississippi State on Saturday, with rumors swirling about Napier’s job status.

Napier finished 6-7 and 5-7 in his first two seasons at Florida, including five straight losses to end 2023. He’d be owed a buyout of around $27 million if he is fired before the season ends.

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