History of the Jacksonville Jaguars facts for kids
The history of the Jacksonville Jaguars is about an American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The team officially started on November 30, 1993. That's when the NFL chose Jacksonville, Florida to have a new team, which became the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars, along with the Carolina Panthers, began playing in the 1995 NFL season as new expansion teams.
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Early Attempts to Bring Football to Jacksonville
People tried to bring professional football to Jacksonville as early as 1925. A famous player named Ernie Nevers even played his first professional season with a team in Jacksonville that year. However, the team soon closed because they couldn't afford his salary.
By the 1970s, other football leagues started placing teams in the city. Teams like the Jacksonville Sharks and Jacksonville Express played in the World Football League. The Jacksonville Firebirds played in the American Football Association. Later, the Jacksonville Bulls played in the United States Football League.
In 1987, Jacksonville tried to get the Houston Oilers to move there. But the Oilers' owner, Bud Adams, decided to keep his team in Houston after getting stadium upgrades.
Joining the NFL: 1991–1994
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In 1989, a group called Touchdown Jacksonville! was formed. This group wanted to bring an NFL team to the city. It included important people like future Florida Governor Jeb Bush and was led by shoe businessman Wayne Weaver.
In 1991, the NFL announced it would add two new teams. This was the first time they expanded since 1976. Jacksonville's group announced their bid for a team. Jacksonville became one of five finalists. The other cities were Charlotte, St. Louis, Baltimore, and Memphis.
Many people thought Jacksonville was the least likely city to get a team. Its population and TV market were smaller than most NFL cities. Also, the Gator Bowl stadium was old. The ownership group had trouble agreeing on a stadium lease with the city. These problems made the group pull out of the bidding in July 1993.
Charlotte was awarded the first new team, the Carolina Panthers, in October 1993. The NFL then surprised everyone by delaying the announcement for the second team. Most experts thought St. Louis would get it. But in a surprising vote, NFL owners chose Jacksonville for the 30th team.
After the Gator Bowl game on December 31, 1993, the old stadium was mostly torn down. A new, stronger stadium was built in its place. Only a small part of the old stadium remained.
The Jaguars were placed in the AFC Central division. This made the division bigger. Their division rivals were mostly in the Midwest, which was not geographically accurate for a Florida team.
The Tom Coughlin Era: 1994–2002
In January 1994, Wayne Weaver chose Tom Coughlin to be the Jaguars' first head coach. Coughlin had been a position coach in the NFL. However, he had never been a head coach or a coordinator before.
Unlike other teams, the Jaguars' owner did not hire a general manager. This meant Coach Coughlin would have most of the power over player decisions. He spent a year preparing for the team's first players. These players would come from the expansion draft, free agency, and the rookie draft in 1995.
First Season: 1995
The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Carolina Panthers were the first new NFL teams in almost 20 years. In the 1995 NFL expansion draft, the Jaguars picked Steve Beuerlein first. But he soon lost his starting spot to Mark Brunell.
The Jaguars finished their first season with 4 wins and 12 losses. This was a good start for a new team. Many players from this first season helped the Jaguars reach the playoffs later. These included quarterback Mark Brunell, offensive lineman Tony Boselli, running back James Stewart, and wide receiver Jimmy Smith.
The team played its first regular season game at home on September 3. They lost 10–3 to the Houston Oilers. Their first win came in Week 4, a 17–16 victory against the Oilers in Houston. The next week, they won their first home game, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 20–16. They also beat the Cleveland Browns twice, including a 24–21 win in the Browns' last game before moving to Baltimore.
Playoff Run: 1996
Jacksonville had a very successful 1996 season. They won six of their last seven games and finished with a 9–7 record. Quarterback Mark Brunell threw for over 4,000 yards. Receivers Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith each gained over 1,000 receiving yards.
In their final regular season game, the Jaguars needed a win to make the playoffs. They got lucky when Morten Andersen, a famous kicker, missed a field goal for the Atlanta Falcons. The Jaguars won and earned a playoff spot.
The Jaguars visited the Buffalo Bills for their first playoff game. Many thought they would lose, but the Jaguars won 30–27. This game ended the career of Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly. Next, they played the Denver Broncos, who were considered the best team in the AFC. The Jaguars surprised everyone again, winning 30–27. This is seen as one of the biggest upsets in NFL playoff history. When the team returned home, 40,000 fans greeted them at the stadium.
Their amazing season ended in the AFC Championship Game. They lost 20–6 to the New England Patriots.
Strong Seasons: 1997–1999
In 1997, their third season, the Jaguars finished 11–5. They made the playoffs again as a Wild Card team. However, they lost their first playoff game 42–17 to the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.
In 1998, the Jaguars again finished 11–5 and won their first AFC Central Division title. They were the first new NFL team to make the playoffs three times in their first four seasons. They won their first home playoff game 25–10 against the New England Patriots. But their season ended the next week with a 34–24 loss to the New York Jets.
The 1999 season was the best in Jaguars history. They had a league-leading 14–2 record. Their only two losses were to the Tennessee Titans. The Jaguars won their division for the second year in a row and earned the top spot in the AFC playoffs.
In the AFC Divisional playoffs, the Jaguars crushed the Miami Dolphins 62–7. This was Dan Marino's and Jimmy Johnson's last NFL game. Jacksonville's 62 points and 55-point win margin are among the highest in NFL playoff history. Fred Taylor's 90-yard run was the longest in an NFL playoff game.
The Jaguars' dream of a Super Bowl title ended the next week. They lost at home to the Tennessee Titans 33–14. All three of their losses that season were against the Titans. This loss marked the end of an era where the Jaguars made the playoffs in four of their first five years.
Challenges: 2000–2002
The Jaguars faced difficulties during this time, partly due to salary cap issues. In 2000, they finished with a 7–9 record. They then had 6–10 records in both 2001 and 2002.
After the 2002 season, head coach Tom Coughlin was fired. He had coached the Jaguars for eight seasons, leading them to 68 wins and four playoff trips. The 2002 season was also the last full season for quarterback Mark Brunell. He was a key player for the Jaguars, throwing for over 25,000 yards and making three Pro Bowls.
In 2002, the NFL changed its divisions. The Jaguars moved to the AFC South, which was a better geographic fit. They were now in the same division as the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, and the new Houston Texans.
The Jack Del Rio Era: 2003–2011
Building the Team: 2003–2005
In 2003, the Jaguars hired Jack Del Rio as head coach. Del Rio was a former NFL linebacker and had been a successful defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. The Jaguars also drafted quarterback Byron Leftwich with the seventh pick in the NFL draft.
The team finished the 2003 season with a 5–11 record. They missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. Even though they fixed their salary cap problems, rebuilding the team took longer than expected.
The 2004 season, the Jaguars' 10th, resulted in a 9–7 record. This was their first winning season since 1999. Their defense was very strong, with Pro Bowl players Marcus Stroud and John Henderson. Kicker Josh Scobee also became a key player. Quarterback Byron Leftwich had a good year, helped by Fred Taylor and Jimmy Smith. However, injuries to key players hurt their playoff chances.
In 2005, the Jaguars hoped to challenge the Colts for the division title. But the Colts started 13–0 and easily won the AFC South. With a 12–4 record, the Jaguars earned a wild card spot. This was their first playoff appearance since 1999. They lost 28–3 to the New England Patriots in the AFC wild card playoff round.
Injuries and New Talent: 2006–2007
Jacksonville seemed like a rising team after their 12–4 season. But injuries hit them hard in 2006. Many key players, including Byron Leftwich and Fred Taylor, suffered injuries. The team started 2–0 but finished 8–8 and missed the playoffs. A positive note was the impressive rookie season of running back Maurice Jones-Drew.
In the 2007 NFL Draft, the Jaguars picked safety Reggie Nelson. On August 31, 2007, the Jaguars announced that long-time backup quarterback David Garrard would be the starter. Former first-round pick Byron Leftwich was released. Garrard led the Jaguars to an 11–5 record and a wild card spot in the playoffs.
The Jaguars beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31–29 in their first playoff win in almost eight years. It was also the first time the Steelers lost twice at home to the same team in one season. However, in the next round, the Jaguars lost to the undefeated New England Patriots 31–20.
Challenges and Changes: 2008–2011
The 2008 season started with high hopes. The team added new players like wide receiver Jerry Porter. But the Jaguars struggled, finishing with a 5–11 record. This was their worst record since 2003. Many offensive linemen suffered serious injuries, which hurt the team's performance.
The 2008 season marked the end of running back Fred Taylor's 11-year career as a Jaguar. Taylor is considered one of the greatest Jaguars ever. He rushed for over 10,000 yards for Jacksonville. His departure allowed Maurice Jones-Drew to become the team's main running back.
In 2009, the Jaguars hired their first general manager, Gene Smith. The team finished 7–9 and missed the playoffs. However, attendance numbers dropped, leading to TV blackouts. This caused worries that the team might move. Jacksonville is one of the NFL's smallest markets.
To fix this, the team and city worked together in 2010. Supporters started a "Team Teal" drive to sell more tickets. The stadium was renamed EverBank Field. As a result, attendance greatly increased in 2010, and no home games were blacked out.
The 2010 season was good for the Jaguars on the field. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew was second in the league in rushing yards. David Garrard threw a team-record 23 touchdowns. Josh Scobee set a team record with a 59-yard field goal to beat the Colts. The Jaguars were in playoff contention but finished 8–8.
In the 2011 NFL draft, the Jaguars traded up to pick quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Before the season, quarterback David Garrard was cut, and Luke McCown became the starter. After two games, McCown was replaced by Blaine Gabbert. The offense continued to struggle under the rookie quarterback.
On November 29, owner Wayne Weaver announced that head coach Jack Del Rio was fired. His record was 3–8 for the season and 68–71 overall. Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker became the interim head coach.
Era of Struggles: 2012-2021
New Ownership and Coaching: 2012
Right after Coach Del Rio was fired, Wayne Weaver announced he would sell the team to Illinois businessman Shahid Khan. NFL owners approved Khan's ownership, and he took over on January 4, 2012. He immediately began looking for a new head coach.
On January 10, Mike Mularkey was named the new head coach. The team also hired Mark Lamping as team president.
The Jaguars started the 2012 season with new coaches and an owner. They hoped to improve their receiving players and quarterback Blaine Gabbert. They drafted wide receiver Justin Blackmon and signed Laurent Robinson. Despite these changes, the team struggled, finishing with a 2–14 record. This was the worst in franchise history. Both general manager Gene Smith and head coach Mike Mularkey were fired after the season.
London Games
On August 21, 2012, the Jaguars announced a deal to play one home game each year in London at Wembley Stadium. This was part of the NFL London Games. The first game was against the San Francisco 49ers on October 27, 2013. This deal was extended several times. The Jaguars have played in London almost every year since then.
The Gus Bradley Era: 2013–2016
Building for the Future: 2013–2015
On January 8, David Caldwell was hired as the new General Manager. Nine days later, Gus Bradley, a defensive coordinator from the Seattle Seahawks, was named head coach.
The Jaguars struggled early in 2013, starting 0–8. Wide receiver Justin Blackmon was suspended indefinitely. Despite this, the Jaguars got their first win under Gus Bradley on November 10, beating the Tennessee Titans 29–27. They finished the season 4–12.
After the 2013 season, the Jaguars traded quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Maurice Jones-Drew also left the team after seven years. In the 2014 NFL draft, the Jaguars selected quarterback Blake Bortles and wide receiver Marqise Lee. The team finished the 2014 season with a 3–13 record.
In the 2015 NFL draft, the Jaguars picked Dante Fowler third overall. However, Fowler suffered a serious knee injury and missed the entire 2015 season. Kicker Josh Scobee was traded, and Jason Myers took over. The Jaguars finished the 2015 season 5–11. This was their fifth straight losing season.
Coaching Change: 2016
With a lot of money to spend, Jacksonville signed new defensive players like Malik Jackson and Prince Amukamara. In the 2016 NFL Draft, they picked cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Myles Jack.
On October 2, 2016, the Jaguars beat the Indianapolis Colts 30–27 in London. However, on December 18, 2016, Gus Bradley was fired after the Jaguars lost their ninth game in a row. Bradley's record as head coach was 14 wins and 48 losses.
The Doug Marrone Era: 2016–2020
Playoff Success: 2017–2018
On January 9, 2017, Doug Marrone became the new head coach. General Manager David Caldwell's contract was extended. Also, Tom Coughlin returned to Jacksonville as Executive Vice-president of Football Operations.
In the 2017 NFL Draft, the Jaguars selected running back Leonard Fournette. In a London game on September 24, 2017, Jaguars players knelt during the national anthem. This was in response to comments made by President Donald Trump. The Jaguars later apologized for how the protest was seen by military members.
After their Week 15 win, the Jaguars made the playoffs for the first time since 2007. They finished the season 10–6, winning their division for the first time since 1999. They beat the Buffalo Bills 10–3 in Jacksonville, their first playoff win in ten years.
On January 14, 2018, the Jaguars defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 45–42 in Pittsburgh. This sent them to their third AFC Championship Game, and their first in 18 years. They led for most of the game but narrowly lost to the New England Patriots 24–20. Their defense was so strong that season, it earned the nickname "Sacksonville".
The next season, Jacksonville started well with a 3–1 record. But they lost ten of their last twelve games, finishing 5–11 and last in their division.
New Quarterbacks and Trades: 2019–2020
In 2019, the Jaguars signed quarterback Nick Foles. They then released Blake Bortles. They also drafted linebacker Josh Allen.
On September 9, Foles broke his collarbone in the first game of 2019. Gardner Minshew replaced him as the starting quarterback. Minshew became popular for his mustache and good play as a rookie. On October 15, the Jaguars traded star cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams. On December 18, the Jaguars fired executive vice president Tom Coughlin.
In 2020, the Jaguars traded several key players, including Calais Campbell and Nick Foles. They also released Marqise Lee. In the 2020 NFL Draft, they picked cornerback C. J. Henderson and linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson.
On August 30, the Jaguars traded Yannick Ngakoue. The next day, they released Leonard Fournette. On September 13, 2020, the Jaguars beat the Indianapolis Colts 27–20. This was their only win of the 2020 season. They then went on a 20-game losing streak.
After losing 10 straight games, General Manager Dave Caldwell was fired on November 29. Gardner Minshew struggled and was replaced by Mike Glennon. On January 4, 2021, head coach Doug Marrone was fired. The team finished the 2020 season with a 1–15 record, the worst in franchise history.
The Urban Meyer Era: 2021
On January 14, 2021, Urban Meyer, a successful college football coach, was chosen to be the next head coach of the Jaguars.
Because the Jaguars had the worst record in 2020, they had the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. They used it to select quarterback Trevor Lawrence from Clemson. Lawrence was seen as a very talented player with high expectations.
On May 20, 2021, the Jaguars signed former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow as a tight end. This was a surprising move because Tebow was 33 and had no experience playing tight end. He was released on August 17, 2021.
On August 28, 2021, the Jaguars traded Gardner Minshew. Trevor Lawrence was then officially named the starting quarterback.
Meyer's time as coach was difficult. It was reported that he struggled with losing and had problems with staff and players. On October 2, 2021, a video of Meyer at a bar caused controversy. This led to more issues within the team.
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On October 17, 2021, in a London game, the Jaguars beat the Miami Dolphins 23–20. This win ended their 20-game losing streak.
On December 16, 2021, the Jaguars fired Meyer as head coach. This was due to many issues, including reports of arguments and problems among staff and players. Meyer later said it was "the worst experience I've had in my professional lifetime."
Current Era
The Doug Pederson Era: 2022–present
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On February 3, 2022, Doug Pederson, a former head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, was hired as the next head coach of the Jaguars. He is the seventh permanent head coach in team history.
The Jaguars struggled early in the 2022 season. But they improved greatly by winning their last five games. This allowed them to reach the 2022–23 NFL playoffs.
The Jaguars played the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card playoff game on January 14, 2023. They were down 27–0 at halftime. But the Jaguars made an amazing comeback, winning 31–30. This was the third-largest comeback in NFL playoff history. Their season ended the next week with a 27–20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
