Urban Meyer Names 'Greatest' Player of All-Time Without Hesitation
Urban Meyer Names 'Greatest' Player of All-Time Without Hesitation originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Former Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer saw plenty of talent come through Gainesville.
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However, there was one player who stood out as the "greatest" of all time in his eyes. On a recent edition of "The Triple Option," Meyer believed former Florida receiver Percy Harvin fit that mold.
Meyer was at Florida from 2005-2010, winning national titles in 2006 and 2008. Harvin was at the university from 2006-08 and was a true offensive weapon.
Harvin was not only useful as a receiving threat, but in the running game as well. He accounted for 3,781 scrimmage yards and 32 touchdowns in three years with the Gators.
Florida Gators wide receiver (8) Percy Harvin. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
"I've said this and not many people disagree who watched him, or played against him, or played with him," Meyer said. "I think he's arguably the greatest player to put on a helmet. He's the most violent runner I've ever had, and Mark, he never got hit. We used to say he'd have eyes on the side and the back of his head."
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After a successful college career, Harvin headed to the NFL. He was taken with the 22nd overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2009 NFL Draft.
He got off to a great start, winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and making the Pro Bowl in 2009.
Harvin also played for the Seattle Seahawks (2013-14), New York Jets (2014) and Buffalo Bills (2015-16). He retired from football in 2016 after dealing with injuries throughout his NFL career.
From 2013-16, Harvin played in just 21 games due to injury.
Meyer is full of stories from his time at Florida. In a previous episode of the podcast, he explained the way he used to motivate players by not giving championship rings to those with poor grades.
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He has shied away from discussing the best Florida players he coached, along with Harvin. On one episode, he named the Pouncey twins, Harvin and Carlos Dunlap as the best NFL players Meyer coached in college.
Related: Urban Meyer Sends Blunt Message About College Football Playoff
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
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