Tim Tebow and Tony Dungy Weigh In on the Urban Meyer Controversy; ‘Disappointing’ and ‘Heartbreaking’

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From left to right: Sports Spectrum, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Thomas Matty, United States Army, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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“I’m praying for them in this hard time, because it’s so much bigger than football will ever be,” the former first-round draft pick told the First Take hosts.

Tebow tried out for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ tight-end position this past offseason, attempting to make an NFL comeback. Had Tebow made the roster, he would have been reunited with his Florida Gators coach. Meyer and Tebow previously won two National College Championships together.

Related article: Gene Simmons Defends Tim Tebow, Slams His Critics in Viral Tweet: “Shame on the NFL & Rest of the World”

This is Meyer’s first year of coaching in the NFL. He was a head coach for four different college teams across 17 years. During that time, he had an overall record of 187 wins and only 32 losses. This season, the Jacksonville Jaguars are currently 0-5. Last year, prior to Meyer taking over as head coach, the team went 1-15.

Tony Dungy’s Reaction

Tony Dungy won a Super Bowl as a player with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1979 and as the Indianapolis Colt’s head coach in 2007. The Hall of Fame coach is open about his faith and recently spoke out on social media about President Biden’s pro-choice policy stance.

Dungy is the author of a number of marriage and leadership books, and he criticized Meyer’s lack of leadership, which placed him in the compromising position that resulted in the viral video.

“I played football for probably 16 years, total. I coached for 28 years,” Dungy told host Michael Holly on Brother From Another. “I never went to a game where the head coach didn’t come back with my team. Me and myself for 13 years as a head coach, 15 years as an assistant, 15 years playing. When the head coach went to a game, when we returned, the head coach came back with us. I just don’t know how you do that.”

Arguing that Meyer’s failure was in not being there for his players, Dungy said, “That was the mistake to me!”

“What happened in the bar or whatever, that’s secondary. You go back with your team,” Dungy explained. “We finish by getting home. It’s your responsibility as the head coach to make sure everybody lands on that plane safe [and] everybody gets back to the facility. Then you do what you have to do.”

Trevor Lawrence Responds

During the Jacksonville Jaguars’ media press day, starting rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence responded to questions regarding Meyer’s inappropriate video.

“I think [Meyer] has handled it well to this point,” Lawrence said. “Obviously it’s not an easy situation, and you don’t want to be in this situation, but I think he’s done right by us — [he’s been] up front with us and apologized.”

Lawrence explained that when a team is in a situation “that puts a little stress on it, that doesn’t mean you just give up and you go your separate ways. You figure it out and work through it.”

Related article: Trevor Lawrence Is One College Student Who Goes to Church

The rookie quarterback, who is also known for speaking openly about his faith, told the media in the room, “He’s still my head coach. I still respect him regardless of what happens.”

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Jesse T. Jackson
Jesse is the Senior Content Editor for ChurchLeaders and Site Manager for ChristianNewsNow. An undeserving husband to a beautiful wife, and a father to 4 beautiful children. He is currently a church elder in training, a growth group leader, and is a member of University Baptist Church in Beavercreek, Ohio. Follow him on twitter here (https://twitter.com/jessetjackson). Accredited member of the Evangelical Press Association.

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