JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Head Coach - Liam Coen
2025 Offensive Rank - 337 YPG; Rushing - 115 YPG (20th), Passing - 222 YPG (12th) SCORING - 27.9 PPG (6th)
2025 Defensive Rank - 304 YPG (11th); Rushing - 86 YPG (1st), Passing - 218 YPG (21st) SCORING - 19.8 PPG (8th)
Key Player Additions - Ruke Orhorhoro (DL), Chris Rodriguez, Jr. (RB), Ameer Abdullah (RB), Nate Boerkircher (TE)
Key Player Losses - Devin Lloyd (LB), Travis Etienne (RB), Dyami Brown (WR), Greg Newsome II (DB), Andrew Wingard (DB), Johnny Mundt (TE), Tim Patrick (WR), Emmanuel Ogbah (DL)
OFFENSE - Trevor Lawrence is the starting quarterback after another big season, where he had 4,007 passing yards with 29 touchdowns and twelve interceptions and also rushed for 359 yards (4.4 YPC) and scored nine touchdowns. The running game will have a new lead running back in 2026 as Travis Etienne, Jr. left in the off-season. Bhayshul Tuten (307 rushing yards, 3.7 YPC, five TD) and Chris Rodriguez, Jr., who had 500 yards rushing (4.5 YPC) and six touchdowns with Washington last season. The wide receivers are Jakobi Meyers (75 receptions, 835 yards, three touchdowns) and Parker Washington, who made 58 catches for 847yards and five touchdowns. Two-way player Travis Hunter had 28 receptions for 298 yards and one score as a wide receiver. Brian Thomas, Jr. had 48 receptions for 707 yards and two scores while tight end Brenton Strange had 46 grabs for 540 yards with three touchdowns. Top rookie draft pick Nate Boerkircher will to contribute at tight end as well.
DEFENSE - Arik Armstead (5 1/2 QB sacks), Ruke Orhorhoro, Josh Hines-Allen (eight sacks), DaVon Hamilton and Travon Walker (3 1/2 sacks) form the defensive front. The linebackers are Ventrell Miller, Foyesade Oluokun and Dennis Gardeck. The defensive backs include cornerbacks Jarrien Jones (three interceptions), Montaric Brown and Travis Hunter, who also doubles up at wide receiver for the Jaguars. Hunter missed ten games in his rookie season due to knee injuries. The safeties are Antoine Johnson, who had five picks last year and Caleb Ransaw. Keith Taylor, Jr., Jourdan Lewis and rookie Jalen Huskey (Maryland) add depth. The Jaguars finished eleventh in overall defense last season and allowed 19.8 points per game while topping the NFL against the run. They had a plus-13 in turnover rate (3rd in NFL) and picked off 22 passes (2nd) while getting 32 quarterback sacks.
2026 SEASON OUTLOOK - After two successive step back seasons, the Jaguars leaped to the top of the AFC South division last year and then lost a nail biter game to Buffalo in the wild card round of the AFC playoffs. Head Coach Liam Coen was the runner up for the NFL Coach of the Year as the team won 13 games in his first year at the helm and he has a knack for the saying and doing the unexpected that helps keep the team loose.
With Trevor Lawrence finally showing consistency at quarterback, the Jaguars scored a lot of points and ranked sixth in the league in that area in 2025. More of that would go a long way to getting this team back to the playoffs and perhaps making a deep run this time around after a one-and-done appearance last year. The passing game is good and it will be a transition in 2026 with the rushing attack as their top back (Travis Etienne) left for New Orleans in free agency, leaving a tandem of running backs to keep things going and maintain balance on the offense. The defense was solid a year ago and should continue to be so as long as injuries don't take a toll. A better pass rush would help as the team ranked 27th in sacks. The Jags do get turnovers though and that helps flip the field for the offense, which took advantage of that last year.
Jacksonville has big expectations for the upcoming NFL season and it would be a disappointment if they fail to reach the playoffs. The main foe for them in the AFC South is the Houston Texans, but Indianapolis is looking to bounce back after injuries to key players ruined their 2025 season, so the Jags can take nothing for granted this year. The playoffs look to be in the big picture in 2026 and how far the Jaguars can go will depend on Lawrence and the offense making the plays and the defense getting the big stops in crunch time. The Super Bowl isn't out of the question, but they will have to work hard to make it a reality.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. Cleveland
Week Two - at Denver
Week Three - vs. New England
Week Four - at Cincinnati
Week Five - vs. Philadelphia (London, England)
Week Six - vs. Houston (London, England)
Week Seven - BYE
Week Eight - vs. Indianapolis
Week Nine - at Baltimore
Week Ten - at Tennessee
Week Eleven - at N.Y. Giants
Week Twelve - vs. Tennessee
Week Thirteen - at Chicago
Week Fourteen - vs. Pittsburgh
Week Fifteen - at Houston
Week Sixteen - at Dallas
Week Seventeen - vs. Washington
Week Eighteen - at Indianapolis
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