The fact he didn’t seem to grasp that before his ill-advised hire of controversial strength coach Chris Doyle, though, doesn’t bode well for Meyer’s chances of long-term success in the NFL.
Meyer’s own hiring last month in Jacksonville came about largely because he fit the mold that many in football still feel most comfortable with. But that didn’t mean he could get away with doubling down on an assistant coach who faced accusations he bullied players and made racist comments in his last job.
Doyle’s hiring likely wouldn’t have gotten more than a raised eyebrow at Ohio State or Florida, where Meyer reigned unchallenged as the head football coach of teams that won national titles and brought in tens of millions of dollars to their university athletic coffers.