Penn State is still looking for its next head football coach after firing James Franklin, but it won’t be Urban Meyer.

“I certainly did not meet with Penn State about the job,” Meyer said during an interview with Colin Cowherd. “… I have a lot of respect for Penn State, but I have no interest in coaching again. So, of course not.”

While Meyer’s most recent venture into coaching went anything but according to plan when he lasted less than a full season with the Jacksonville Jaguars at 2-11 during the 2021 campaign, he is one of the best college football coaches in the sport’s history.

Over stops at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and Ohio State, he went 187-32 for an .854 winning percentage. He is third in college football history for winning percentage behind only Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy among coaches who coached for at least 10 years.

Meyer was also 12-3 in bowl games and won three national titles with two coming at Florida and the most recent coming at Ohio State.

He also performed at his best in high-profile rivalry games going 7-0 against Michigan when he was with the Buckeyes and a combined 10-2 against Georgia and Florida State when he was with the Gators.

Meyer was included in the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame induction class and would be a home-run hire for the Nittany Lions on paper given his overall resume.

However, he also hasn’t coached in college since 2018.

The sport is much different even in the short amount of time that has passed since his retirement given the changed College Football Playoff format, conference realignment, and the opportunity for players to make money through name, image and likeness opportunities.

NIL undoubtedly plays a significant role in recruiting, and Meyer would have to become accustomed to the new era of college football if he did decide to return.

Yet the 61-year-old was firm in his denial that he is interested in returning to the sidelines and will instead continue his role as an analyst for Fox. And Penn State will have to continue the search process as it looks to put a disappointing 2025 campaign in the rearview mirror.