The Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coaching situation appears to be gaining some steam as NFL insider Ian Rapoport revealed that the team has its sights set on Urban Meyer as a top target. However, if they can’t land the former Ohio State coach, Rapoport also reported that the man who replaced Meyer in 2018, Ryan Day, is also set to receive interest from the Jags.
If Meyer is not the eventual choice, or decides to stay retired, Jacksonville is expected to look hard at the offensive side of the ball. Ohio State coach Ryan Day, whose team is currently set to face Alabama in the NCAA National Title game, is also set to receive interest from the Jaguars.
Day, 41, is a coach who does have some experience on the NFL level, serving as a quarterbacks coach with the Philadelphia Eagles (2015) and San Francisco 49ers (2016). While with the 49ers, he worked with current Jags interim general manager Trent Baalke.
Since leaving the NFL, Day has been with Ohio State. He joined Meyer’s staff in 2017 and initially served as their co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Day was named Ohio State’s acting head coach in 2018 after Meyer was placed on administrative leave for an investigation involving Courtney Smith and her 2015 allegation of domestic violence against her husband, Zach Smith, who formerly served as Meyer’s assistant.
Meyer eventually retired at the end of the 2019 season and Day has been the head coach since. Overall, he’s garnered a head coaching record of 23-1, with his only loss occurring during the 2019 Fiesta Bowl against Clemson.
As Ohio State’s coach, it’s worth pointing out that Day has also coached one of the top prospects of this year’s draft class, Justin Fields, ever since his transferal to the university. That said, if he’s willing to leave the college ranks, a reunion with his college quarterback could be something to watch as the Jags have the No. 1 overall pick.