JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach has been unsuccessful in his multi-million dollar arbitration battle against the NFL franchise that terminated him for cause in 2021, according to a source with knowledge of the legal proceedings.
The individual provided information to The Associated Press under the condition of anonymity due to non-disclosure agreements that prevent both parties from publicly discussing the matter. The source indicated the case reached resolution in 2025, though On3 initially reported the outcome Monday.
The Jaguars organization refused to provide comment, and attempts to reach Meyer for response were unsuccessful.
Team owner Shad Khan terminated Meyer for cause in December 2021, just hours after former player Josh Lambo publicly accused Meyer of physically kicking him during a practice session months prior — marking the final incident in a series of controversies during Meyer’s 11-month stint with the franchise.
Meyer attempted to manage a professional roster using collegiate methods. He decorated the facility with motivational sayings and phrases, implemented training camp-style drills during practice sessions, and maintained his flawed philosophy that coaching staff work for players while players perform for their coaches. He frequently brought in guest speakers for motivation and consistently blamed his assistant coaches for accumulating defeats rather than holding the professional athletes accountable.
Among Meyer’s most controversial actions occurred after a Thursday evening matchup in Cincinnati during late September. He decided to remain behind with relatives rather than return home with his squad, and was subsequently recorded the next evening acting inappropriately with a female patron at an establishment in Columbus, Ohio.
Abandoning his team demonstrated Meyer’s disconnect from professional football culture. This represented just one example of questionable judgment from a coach who achieved remarkable collegiate success — earning three combined championship titles — while leading programs at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and Ohio State.
Meyer contested his dismissal through arbitration proceedings. A favorable ruling would have secured the remaining portion of his five-year agreement valued at approximately $6 million per year.
Meyer and Lambo remain engaged in separate civil litigation scheduled for trial in early August. Lambo voluntarily removed the Jaguars organization from his lawsuit earlier this year.
Lambo seeks more than $3.5 million in lost wages and emotional distress compensation related to Meyer’s alleged actions. The complaint filed in 4th Judicial Circuit Court in Duval County alleges Meyer established a hostile workplace and claims Lambo’s job performance declined following the kicking incident and verbal mistreatment from Meyer.
Meyer, 61, currently serves as a college football television analyst for Fox Sports and received induction into the College Hall of Fame in December.
