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Rumor Mill: Ryan Day, Urban Meyer surface as potential candidates to fill NFL vacancy
By Dave Holcomb
Published:
Steve Spurrier made the jump from the college coaching ranks to become the head man of the Washington Redskins in 2002. Based on the early rumor mill, Ryan Day or Urban Meyer could follow suit almost two decades later.
Both ESPN’s Elle Duncan and The Dan Patrick Show producer Andrew Perloff argued Monday morning that Day and Meyer could be nice fits for the Redskins head coaching vacancy because of their connection to rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
Washington fired head coach Jay Gruden on Monday morning after falling to 0-5 against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Everyone talking about Lincoln Riley for Redskins. How about one of two coaches who helped Haskins throw 50 TDs at Ohio State last season – Urban Meyer or Ryan Day?
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) October 7, 2019
It’s an interesting thought but this type of rumor seems to be the new fad in the NFL. It happened last winter with Lincoln Riley and the Cleveland Browns.
Sure, Cleveland may have considered Riley because of his connection to Baker Mayfield, but it’s unlikely Riley wanted to leave Oklahoma, where he’s experienced a ton of success already in just two seasons, even to coach his former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback. Cleveland is better this season, but it’s been a place where head coaching career go to die.
While Washington stuck with Gruden for five full seasons before firing him following the awful start to 2019, the same can be argued for the Redskins. Washington has won one playoff game since 2000, and the organization has gone through five head coaches during that stretch.
For Day, it might be difficult leaving a football program that appears to be on its way to another College Football Playoffs appearance, and even if Meyer is dying to get back into coaching, he may prefer to wait for the perfect college opening rather than coach Haskins again.