Photo: Getty Images
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer's wife, Shelley, has issued a statement regarding the controversy surrounding her husband.
Shelley Meyer shared a Notes app message on her Twitter account Thursday (October 7) condemning critics of her husband, while announcing her plan to delete her account immediately after.
"This will be my last post on Twitter," Meyer tweeted. Frankly, I don't need the hate, vitriol, slander, trash that will @ me (this has never stopped anyway).
"We all make mistakes-we are all sinners. If you think you aren't? Then cast the first stone.
"To my wonderful follower/friends: THANK YOU. For your love, support, friendship, laughs-I will miss this the most. I love you ALL and wish God's blessings on you. Thank yu.
"#FaithFamilyFootballFlamings.
"PS I will be deleting right as I post this so I will not see responses. Much love!"
Photo: @Spinnershells/Twitter
On Tuesday (October 5), Sports Illustrated's Michael Silver reported an anonymous Jaguars player told him Meyer "has zero credibility" within the organization and "had very little to begin with."
Silver's report came one day after Meyer apologized for a viral video that surfaced over the weekend showing a woman who wasn't his wife dancing on him at a Ohio bar and canceled Monday's (October 4) team meeting.
"Players were particularly put off by the fact that Meyer canceled Monday's team meeting, as he dealt with the uproar over the videos of him and a young woman getting cozy in that Ohio bar," Silver tweeted. "'He even canceled the team meeting. He was too scared,' a player said.
"Instead Meyer 'only apologized to position groups individually.' He portrayed the woman in the videos as a random person who was 'just there dancing.' Suffice it to say, his audience was highly skeptical.
"Said one player: 'We looked at him like, WTF? Right when he left everyone started dying laughing. And he knew it.'
"Bottom line, said the player: 'It's bad. I don't know how he's gonna function.'"
Jaguars owner Shad Khan issued an official statement regarding the situation, which was obtained and shared by NFL.com on Tuesday.
"I have addressed this matter with Urban," Khan said. "Specifics of our conversation will be held in confidence. 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."
Meyer, 57, stayed in Ohio after the Jaguars' 24-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last Thursday (September 30).
The Toledo native previously coached the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2012 to 2018 and has two restaurants in Columbus and Dublin.
"I just apologized to the team for being a distraction," Meyer said during his Monday press conference via USA TODAY. "It's stupid. I explained everything that happened and I should not have put myself in that position."
Meyer reportedly told the Jaguars he planned on staying in Ohio when the team traveled back to Jacksonville in order to spend time with his grandchildren and attend an event, which he claims is where the incident occurred.
"There was a big group next to the restaurant," Meyer said. "They wanted me to come over and take pictures, and I did. (They) tried to pull me out on the dance floor, screwing around, but I should've left."
The video was shared by the Twitter account, "Uh oh Urban," which has since been deleted.
Meyer has a 187-32 overall record as a collegiate head coach and three national championships, which includes two at the University of Florida (2006, 2008) and one at the Ohio State University (2014), where he finished with an 83-9 record during seven seasons, prior to joining the Jaguars in January.
Meyer is also credited for turning around the football programs at Bowling Green (2001-02) and Utah (2003-04), which included a combined 39-8 overall record during his first four seasons as a head coach.
The Jaguars will host their AFC South rival Tennessee Titans on Sunday (October 10).