Urban Meyer has had quite a week already. The embattled Jacksonville Jaguars coach had to apologize after viral videos showed him at a bar mingling with a young woman following the team’s fourth-straight loss to open the 2021 season. The team owner released a statement calling his actions “inexcusable” and there were reports of players losing faith in him.
There is perhaps no player on the Jaguars roster more important right now than Trevor Lawrence. The rookie quarterback is a major reason Meyer should want to stay in town and help the franchise get back to its past glory. But the interest in working together has to go both ways.
On Wednesday, Lawrence was asked about the situation and whether or not he still respects the coach who is in charge of his NFL career right now.
Trevor Lawrence said he thinks most players have had individual conversations with Urban Meyer but they respected him addressing them as a team on Wednesday.
"He's still my head coach. I still respect him."
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) October 6, 2021
“I can speak for myself, for sure, I know most of the team feels this way, he’s still my head coach, I still respect him, regardless of what happens,” Lawrence said. “We’re a team and we’re figuring it out.”
“Obviously, it’s not an easy situation, and you don’t want to be in this situation, but I think he’s done right by us…” he continued. “We’re sticking together. You know, just because something happens that puts a little stress on it, that doesn’t mean you just give up and go your separate ways, like, you figure it out and work through it, so that’s what we’re doing.”
Trevor Lawrence throws a 50-yarder on the run 💪
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/9eison8Vha
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 1, 2021
Lawrence certainly doesn’t need the distractions. He’s been an interception machine in four games as the Jags have struggled. However, that’s all part of the learning process for most rookie quarterbacks in his position. And given that the team has some real opportunities to get their first win of the season in the coming weeks, Lawrence is likely to remain laser-focused on improving his game and helping turn the narrative around.
So long as Meyer does his part, too. Because if Lawrence doesn’t improve and the Jaguars remain winless, one wonders how long Urban will be valuable to the franchise and its most important player.