ONE
‘Touchdown Jacksonville!’ was the name of a group founded in 1989 with the aim of bringing the NFL to Duval County. In 1991, the NFL announced that it would be adding two expansion franchises and the group seized the opportunity. Jacksonville eventually became one of five finalists, although issues with the stadium almost derailed it’s plans. But thanks to the determination of businessman Wayne Weaver - who would become the franchise’s first owner - and an agreement to build a new stadium in place of the Gator Bowl, Jacksonville was presented with an expansion franchise in 1993 - the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacksonville Jaguars Logo
TWO
As owner, Wayne Weaver’s first order of business was to hire a head coach. He settled upon Tom Coughlin - who was essentially given full control, as no General Manager was hired. With the first pick in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft, Coughlin took quarterback Steve Beuerlein from the Arizona Cardinals. Then, in the 1995 NFL Draft, Jacksonville’s first-ever pick was future Hall of Fame offensive lineman, Tony Boselli. Boselli became the figurehead for a Jaguars organisation that soon made their first-ever trade - acquiring Green Bay Packers quarterback, Mark Brunell. Brunell would eventually become the team’s starting quarterback and remains Jacksonville’s franchise leader in passing yards and touchdown passes.
Tony Boselli, Offensive Tackle 1995-2001
THREE
Jacksonville finished their inaugural season with a 4-12 record. However, the Jaguars saw a huge improvement in the 1996 season - making the playoffs and upsetting a dominant Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round. In just their second year of existence, the Jacksonville Jaguars were one game away from the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, that’s where their season ended, as they lost to the New England Patriots. The next two years saw two more playoff appearances, before Jacksonville won a franchise-record 14 regular-season games in 1999 - resulting in the Jaguars advancing to their second-ever AFC Championship Game. However, they fell at the hand of the Tennessee Titans, who advanced to Super Bowl XXXIV thanks to a 33-14 win.
FOUR
The next few years saw the end of an era in Jacksonville. Jack Del Rio replaced Tom Coughlin as head coach - following yet another playoff-less season in 2002 - and Byron Leftwich took over from Mark Brunell as QB1. Jacksonville never won their division during Del Rio’s eight full seasons as head coach, although they did make the playoffs as a Wild Card in 2005 and 2007. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew was taken in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft, and quickly proved to be a huge steal for the Jaguars - going on to lead the team in rushing for six-straight years.
Maurice Jones-Drew, Running Back 2006-2013
FIVE
The 2011 season was one of turbulence and change for the Jacksonville Jaguars. In the 2011 NFL Draft, the team traded up to select quarterback Blaine Gabbert with the 10th overall pick. However, Gabbert struggled in his rookie season - playing through multiple injuries as the Jaguars won just five games. The lack of success eventually cost Jack Del Rio his role as head coach, as he was fired after Week 12. Soon after it was announced that Wayne Weaver was selling the team to billionaire Shahid Khan. After the season had ended, Khan hired Mike Mularkey as only the third permanent head coach in franchise history.
Shahid Khan, Owner 2012-Present
SIX
Shahid Khan purchased the Jacksonville Jaguars for $770 million, taking over at the start of 2012. Today, Khan is best known in NFL circles for his attempts to increase the Jaguars’ international popularity. In 2012, Khan agreed for Jacksonville to play a regular-season game at London’s Wembley Stadium for the next four years - with the deal eventually extending to another four years. Thanks to Khan, the Jaguars have become synonymous with Wembley, London and the NFL’s continued international growth.
Wembley Stadium - Jacksonville Jaguars vs San Francisco 49ers
SEVEN
Mike Mularkey lasted just one season as head coach, before Gus Bradley took over in 2013 - initially improving the team’s record only slightly. As Gabbert continued to struggle with injuries and inconsistency, the quarterback was traded to the San Francisco 49ers before the start of the 2014 season - prompting the Jaguars to draft Blake Bortles as his replacement. Despite drafting future Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey in 2016, Bradley was fired near the end of that season, and his assistant Doug Marrone stepped in to take over. In the 2017 season, the Jaguars won their first division title in nearly 20 years - thanks to a dominant defense dubbed ‘Sacksonville’. Jacksonville advanced all the way to the AFC Championship game. However, missed out on a Super Bowl appearance thanks to Tom Brady and the Patriots, who overcame a 10-point Jaguars lead in the fourth quarter.
EIGHT
After only winning five games in 2018, the Jaguars signed former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles and released Bortles. However, when Foles went down injured in his Jaguars debut, in stepped Gardner Minshew, a rookie quarterback whose incredible moustache instantly made him a fan favourite. The stars of ‘Sacksonville’ left Jacksonville after Jalen Ramsey was traded to the Los Angeles Rams following a contract dispute. After finishing the 2020 season with the worst record in the NFL, the Jaguars held the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. A new era was about to begin.
Gardner Minshew, Quarterback 2019-2020
NINE
Doug Marrone was fired and replaced by legendary college head coach Urban Meyer. Meyer was tasked with bringing the best out of their first overall pick, quarterback Trevor Lawrence - who was considered a generational talent capable of rejuvenating the franchise. Despite Lawrence becoming the first rookie quarterback to win a game in London, an incredibly dysfunctional 2021 season in Jacksonville resulted in just three wins and Meyer's firing - leading to the hiring of Super Bowl-winning head coach, Doug Pederson. Under Pederson’s tutelage, Lawrence was selected to his first Pro Bowl as Jacksonville made the playoffs in 2022. Down 27-0 against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card Round, an undeterred Lawrence led the Jaguars back to win 31-30 - completing the third-largest comeback in NFL playoff history. Jacksonville entered the 2023 season determined to return to the postseason. After a remarkable 8-3 start to the season, the Jaguars lost almost every remaining game - resulting in a 9-8 record and the team missing out on the playoffs thanks to Week 18 loss to the Titans. Are Jacksonville capable of overcoming the Houston Texans and reclaiming the AFC South title in 2024?
Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback 2021-Present
BEFORE YOU GO
After purchasing the Jaguars, Shahid Khan bought London football club Fulham F.C. to extend Jacksonville’s links internationally - Jaguars cheerleaders even performed at Fulham’s Craven Cottage.
Jacksonville’s iconic mascot, Jaxson de Ville, has become known amongst British NFL fans for his incredible pregame entrances - leaping off the roof of both Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a selfie stick in hand.
In 2023, Forbes valued the Jacksonville Jaguars at $4 billion - making them the 28th most valuable franchise in the NFL.
