Jaguars Coach Urban Meyer Defends Controversial Chris Doyle Hire

New Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer has his first controversy since taking the position, as he and the team are defending hiring former Iowa strength coach Chris Doyle.

While at Iowa, Doyle was accused of making racist remarks and belittling and bullying players.

Meyer hired Doyle to be the team's new director of sports performance. The issues with Doyle resurfaced on Thursday after the club released a list of their 28 coaches for the 2021 season.

Also confirmed to Meyer's staff is offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, defensive coordinator Joe Cullen, and former Louisville, Texas and South Florida head coach Charlie Strong as assistant head coach/inside linebackers coach.

Doyle was with Iowa from 1999 until June of 2020. His dismissal came after a number of former Iowa players spoke about issues within the program and how Doyle used racist language and treated black players differently than other players.

Meyer said the Jaguars did their homework on Doyle before making the hire, and stands by bringing him on to the team's coaching staff.

"I vet everyone on our staff and, like I said, the relationship goes back close to 20 years and a lot of hard questions asked, a lot of vetting involved with all our staff," Meyer said.

"We did a very good job vetting that one.

"I met with our staff, and I'm going to be very transparent with all the players like I am with everything. I'll listen closely and learn and also there's going to have to be some trust in their head coach that we're going to give them the very best of the best, and time will tell.

"The allegations that took place, I will say I vetted him. I know the person for close to 20 years, and I can assure them there will be nothing of any sort in the Jaguar facility."