Jaguars HC Urban Meyer: 'I'm not a candidate' for open Notre Dame job

For the second time this NFL season, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer has publicly stated he is not interested in making a return to the college game at the age of 57. 

A report surfaced earlier on Tuesday claiming Meyer "does not want to re-enter the college ranks at this point in his life" even though the three-time national champion coach previously said he viewed the Notre Dame Fighting Irish position as a "dream job." That gig is open now that Brian Kelly has jumped to the LSU Tigers, but Meyer confirmed his intentions while speaking with Los Angeles media later on Tuesday ahead of Jacksonville's Week 13 game at the Los Angeles Rams. 

"I’m not a candidate," Meyer said of Notre Dame's search, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "Obviously I spent six years of my life there, so great respect for Notre Dame, and as I do USC, UCLA, like we talked about. But I’m committed to the Jaguars and doing the best we can to turn this thing around." 

Simmons adds Meyer served as receivers coach at Notre Dame from 1996 through 2000. 

Meyer was linked with the USC Trojans in September after that program dismissed head coach Clay Helton but said at the time there was "no chance" he was pursuing that job. Since then, the Jaguars have fallen to 2-9, but it seems the club's disappointing record and season aren't causing Meyer to rethink his NFL tenure as Christmas approaches.