Something Doesn’t Add Up: Urban Meyer’s Denial of Penn State Rumors Raises More Questions
Urban Meyer’s name won’t go away. The three-time national champion is back in headlines, this time denying reports linking him to the Penn State job — but questions about what really happened behind the scenes remain.
Over the past week, a swirl of reports suggested Urban Meyer kicked the tires on Penn State’s opening and that Penn State kicked back.
The loudest version came Friday, Oct. 31, when national radio host Zach Gelb said on air he had “two sources” who told him that Meyer had “great interest” in the Nittany Lions job, and that he “had conversations with the powers that be at Penn State,” and that talks fizzled when the discussion turned to how Meyer would navigate the NIL era.
Gelb further said any future Meyer–Penn State conversations would only be Meyer advocating for Ohio State OC Brian Hartline.
Gelb posted this on X (formerly Twitter):
Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb)
“Sources: Urban Meyer had strong interest in becoming the next head coach at Penn State.
Those conversations didn’t go far because of Urban’s answers on navigating the NIL world.
Urban could talk to PSU again, but it would only be to advocate for Brian Hartline as the next HC.”
— October 31, 2025
Urban Meyer Denies Penn State Job Talks
Meyer finally addressed the noise this week.
On Wednesday, Nov. 5, he used his “Triple Option” podcast to push back, laughing off the report, insisting he will not be the next head coach at Penn State, and denying that he met with Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick about the job. (That McCormick breakfast photo is real; Meyer’s point is that it wasn’t about the vacancy.)
Newsweek and On3 both summarized Meyer’s denial, including his specific pushback on the McCormick angle.
Gelb quickly followed up with this tweet after Meyer’s denial:
Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb)
“Here is Urban Meyer on The Triple Option podcast denying my report that he was interested in the PSU job.
Funny I never mentioned Senator Dave McCormick like he said.
My report was he had strong interest in the PSU job & NIL is the reason he won’t get it. And I stand by it.”
— November 5, 2025
Gelb isn’t budging.
As Meyer’s denial made the rounds, Awful Announcing reported Wednesday that Gelb “stands firm” on his original sourcing: that discussions happened, that the NIL was the sticking point, and that PSU moved on.
Gelb also posted the audio and reiterated his claim on X.
NittanyCentral spoke to Gelb via text within an hour of his report, and he replied that he could not get into any details of the alleged NIL breakdown so as to protect his sources.
What Zach Gelb Reported About the NIL Issue
Even if you accept Meyer’s denial at face value, the NIL issue is the logical pressure point for any veteran coach re-entering college football.
Gelb’s reporting leans hard on that very thing, that when PSU probed Meyer’s NIL plan, the answers didn’t match what Kraft wants in the current landscape.
That claim remains unverified by PSU, but it’s consistent with how multiple outlets framed the search and with how AD Pat Kraft has positioned the program’s urgency post-Franklin.
Where this issue should be alleviated, is Penn State hiring a general manager to work in concert with Meyer to manage the financial aspects of building a roster in the legendary head coach’s image, whose top priority is allocating resources to field a championship-caliber team.
Buy The Newest Penn State Gear From Fanatics | Shop Penn State Merchandise on Amazon
The Meyer-McCormick Breakfast
Photos and chatter about Meyer dining with Sen. Dave McCormick poured gasoline on the rumor fire.
Meyer’s account: yes, they met; no, it wasn’t about the job.
On3 reported his explicit denial that the meeting involved Penn State’s vacancy.
Awful Announcing noted Meyer “admitted” meeting McCormick while still denying the PSU premise.
Why this Urban Meyer-Penn State Story Still Doesn’t Add Up
So, for now, it’s classic he-said/he-said, Meyer’s denial versus Gelb’s two-source report.
For my money what doesn’t pass the smell test is that Urban Meyer is seen wandering around Capitol Hill having breakfast with a junior Pennsylvania Senator, who carries some serious influence around with him, but they didn’t talk about the Penn State opening? Wow, quite a chance encounter, coach.
The other thing that jumped off the page in the Gelb report was that here’s a three-time champion coach, who should be the overwhelming favorite to land the Penn State job if he wants it, and apparently he “bombs” the interview because of the NIL issue.
Surely, that would be something that Kraft and Meyer could work out. Because if that really happened, Kraft should be fired immediately if not sooner.
Meyer is by far the best candidate out there from a sheer coaching standpoint. He gives your program the best chance to win a title in the next few years and you’re going to pass because you may not like the way the Hall of Fame coach sitting across from you wants to handle the NIL environment?
That’s AD malfeasance, if that’s true.
Lastly, if the meeting hit the reported impasse, I highly doubt that serious friction would be absent from the tension-filled room. The report has Meyer switching gears pretty quickly to advocate for Ohio State’s OC Brian Hartline.
Call me crazy but my olfactory nerves just aren’t feeling it.
Loved this story? Get all our Penn State football coverage and insider updates first. Join our FREE newsletter — your front-row seat to the Lions.
A note to our readers; If you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may receive a commission
It was at PRISM where Staszak produced live games and began his career as an on-air reporter.
After a couple of brief stints with CBS-3, WB-17 and WGAL-8 in Lancaster, PA, Staszak began a 12 year stretch at FOX 29 where he became the lead sportscaster in 2007. It was there that Staszak found himself in the middle of Philadelphia Phillies World Series Championship coverage that earned him an Emmy nomination for best sports reporter in 2008.It was one of five Emmy nominations that Staszak earned over the course of his career.
All told Staszak covered three World Series, two Stanley Cup Finals, an NBA Finals and one Super Bowl during his television run.
Staszak left the TV business for 97.5 The Fanatic in 2013, where he enjoyed eight years bloviating his beliefs on how a professional football team should be run.In 2018 when he fortunate enough to be the first sports talk host in the city, along with cohort Zach Gelb, to provide post-game coverage of the first Super Bowl Championship for the city’s beloved Philadelphia Eagles.
Staszak was also a writer for 97.5 The Fanatic along with 4 Philly Sports and now covers Penn State athletics for NittanyCentral.com.
- Something Doesn’t Add Up: Urban Meyer’s Denial of Penn State Rumors Raises More Questions - November 6, 2025
- Penn State Veteran Addresses Potential Transfer Following Coaching Change - November 5, 2025
- Why Manny Diaz Is Emerging as the Perfect Fit to Lead Penn State Football’s Next Era - November 5, 2025