Urban Meyer explains awkward postgame encounter with Mike Vrabel

Former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer is out of his job, and on Saturday, Meyer made his first public comments about his abrupt, middle-of-the-night firing earlier this week.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network did an extensive interview with Meyer, and it included commentary on the cold shoulder Meyer gave Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel following a 20-0 loss to the Titans in Meyer’s final game. 

“Someone asked me about Vrabel’s [handshake], we’re really close,” Meyer said. “That had nothing to do with him. That’s probably one of my issues why I’ve thought some of the things I said: I can’t take losing. I try to accept it, it just eats away at my soul. And I believe our players deserve better.”

At the end of the game in Nashville, Meyer refused to shake Vrabel’s hand in the middle of the field.

The two coaches know each other well and have several connections. Vrabel and Meyer are both Ohio natives, and Vrabel was the Ohio State defensive line coach from 2012-2013 during Meyer’s stint as the Buckeyes head coach. Vrabel also coached linebackers in Columbus in 2011, one year prior to Meyer’s arrival. The Titans head coach is a former Ohio State defensive end, and he was a two-time Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1995 and 1996.

Meyer left the Jaguars, including No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick Trevor Lawrence, with a 2-11 record, while Vrabel’s Titans are 9-4 and in first place in the AFC South. The Titans won the first matchup this year against the Jaguars as well; the final score from Jacksonville was 37-19.

Jacksonville’s first game without Meyer will be against the Jaguars’ and Titans’ division rival, the Houston Texans. Both the Jaguars and the Texans have been eliminated from playoff contention, as the Texans also have a 2-11 record.

Meyer issues public apology after firing

In the interview with Rapoport, Meyer also apologized to Jaguars fans for everything that has transpired in recent months.

“I just apologize to Jacksonville,” Meyer said. “I love Jacksonville. It’s one of the reasons I took the job. I still think Shad’s a great owner. It’s heart-breaking. I just had a dream of it becoming a destination place with a new facility he agreed to build and some day to walk into that stadium where it’s standing room only. Because I know how bad the people of Jacksonville want it.

“So, I’m just heartbroken that we weren’t able to do that. I still believe it’s going to be done. It’s too good of a place.”

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.