Urban Meyer's tenure as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars lasted less than one season, as team owner Shad Khan officially announced the firing of the college-turned-pro leader on Wednesday night. A predictable conclusion to Meyer's embarrassing and dysfunctional NFL chapter.
And so the perpetually-rebuilding Jaguars, which have made just one playoff appearance since 2008, must once again conduct a search for a new coach. The question is, who is best-suited to replace Meyer and push the franchise into relevancy? According to team reporter J.P. Shadrick, the candidate has to be the right match for prized rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
"That's going to be the thing that matters the most. And I think Lawrence and what he needs and wants around him will have some influence," Shadrick told The Zach Gelb Show on Thursday. "I don't think he'll sit in on the interviews or anything, but he's the face of the franchise. Not some head coach, not some other players, not the GM. This is the first-ever, first-overall pick for the Jags, and they got a generational quarterback, they feel, with that pick.
"And you've wasted a lot of this season with an offense that can't do much of anything. So, whoever it is, if it's [Doug Pederson], if it's any of these guys who are on the early lists, you've got to be able to deal with the quarterback. And make sure he's at his best, get parts around him to help him be his best. That's priority No. 1 for the organization, the owner, and for any of the football leadership that's going to come in."
Lawrence, who was selected first overall by the Jaguars in April, didn't benefit from Meyer's style of leadership and guidance. In the team's shutout loss to the Tennessee Titans last Sunday, the Clemson product threw a season-high four interceptions -- all during the second half -- and he's currently tied with Joe Burrow for the NFL lead in total picks (14). Through 13 games, Lawrence owns a 58.2 completion percentage with 2,735 yards and nine touchdowns.
Jacksonville (2-11), which now owns the third-overall pick in next year's draft, ranks 31st in the NFL in average points scored, 30th in average yards, 27th in average points allowed, and dead last in total giveaways. Draft position could change this coming weekend, as the team will host the Houston Texans (2-11) in a far-from-exciting Week 15 matchup.
The entire Jaguars conversation between Shadrick and Gelb can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow The Zach Gelb Show on Twitter @ZachGelb and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.