FILE – In this Sept. 19, 2021, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer speaks with kicker Josh Lambo after he missed his second field goal against the Denver Broncos. On Tuesday, May 10, 2022, Lambo files a lawsuit against the Jaguars asking for his $3.5 million 2021 salary, arguing that Meyer’s kick caused him stress to perform. ( Associated Press Photo/Stephen B. Morton, File)
FILE – In this Sept. 19, 2021, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer speaks with kicker Josh Lambo after he missed his second field goal against the Denver Broncos. On Tuesday, May 10, 2022, Lambo files a lawsuit against the Jaguars asking for his $3.5 million 2021 salary, arguing that Meyer’s kick caused him stress to perform. ( Associated Press Photo/Stephen B. Morton, File)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ( Associated Press) — Former NFL kicker Josh Lambo has filed a lawsuit against the Jacksonville Jaguars, seeking restitution of his $3.5 million salary and emotional stress damages. that former coach Urban Meyer would have caused him.
The Tampa Bay Times newspaper was the first to report details of the lawsuit filed Tuesday in the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in Duval County.
Through the complaint, Lambo claims that Meyer and the Jaguars created a hostile work environment. According to the lawsuit, Lambo claims his performance dropped as a result of being kicked and verbally abused by Meyer.
Lambo is seeking a jury trial and expects to be awarded his back payment of salary for 2021 ($3.5 million) with interest, as well as “compensation for any special damages suffered from emotional stress and damage to his reputation.” , as well as litigation fees” among other costs.
The Jaguars fired Meyer in December, 15 hours after the Times reported that Meyer kicked Lambo during practice months earlier. Meyer was fired for cause, though the team insisted Lambo’s accusations had no bearing on owner Shad Khan’s decision, which ended one of the most shoddy and scandalous management by a coach in NFL history.
Because Lambo reported the kicking incident to Jaguars legal counsel, his firing violated Florida’s Private Sector Whistleblower legislation, the suit says.
Lambo, the fourth-most accurate kicker in NFL history, missed a field goal attempt in each of Jacksonville’s two preseason games. During practice in August before the final exhibition game in Dallas, Lambo said he was stretching when Meyer walked up, kicked him in the leg and said, “Hey (expletive), hit your (expletive) kicks! ”.
The player indicated that he had asked Meyer not to kick him again, but that the strategist replied: “I am the head coach. I kick whoever I want (expletive)”.
The suit alleges that Lambo verbally reported the incident through his agent, Richard Irving, who contacted the Jaguars’ legal counsel the same day.
Meyer, who spoke before his firing, denied that the incident occurred as Lambo described it.
The suit says the incident affected Lambo’s ability to sleep, train and perform at his job as he had in seven NFL seasons.
Lambo was released by the Jaguars on October 19.
