JACKSONVILLE — For years, Jacksonville Jaguars fans have waited for a team capable of competing with the NFL’s elite. Now, entering the 2026 season, expectations around Duval County are higher than they have been in decades.
After a remarkable 13-4 campaign in 2025, an AFC South championship, and a playoff appearance, the Jaguars are no longer viewed as an up-and-coming team. Instead, they are expected to contend for another division title and potentially make a deep postseason run.
Second-year head coach Liam Coen helped transform Jacksonville into one of the league’s biggest success stories during his first season. Now, with another offseason to build chemistry and refine the roster, many believe the Jaguars are ready to take the next step. Players and coaches have repeatedly emphasized the team’s improved confidence and growth during organized team activities and minicamp.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence enters his sixth NFL season with plenty of momentum. The former No. 1 overall pick has embraced his leadership role and appears comfortable in Coen’s offensive system. With talented playmakers around him and an offensive unit that continues to evolve, Jacksonville’s attack could once again be among the most dangerous in the AFC.
Last year, Lawrence had his best season of his career, ranking Top 10 in several categories.
Passing Yards: 4,007 (ranked 6th in the NFL)
Touchdowns: 29 (ranked 5th in the NFL)
Interceptions: 12
Completion Percentage: 60.9%
Passer Rating: 91.0
Along with Trevor Lawrence is the leader of the defense end Josh Hines-Allen who saw lots of double teams and chips from running backs last year but still had an impressive season ranking in the top 5 in QB Pressures.
Total Tackles: 49
Solo Tackles: 28
Sacks: 8.0
Tackles for Loss: 12
Quarterback Hits: 28
QB Pressures: 80 (Tied-4th in the NFL)
Travis Hunter, the Jaguars 2025 first round draft pick is coming off a year which showed incredible promise of what the talented 2-way player can do. Hunter played both wide receiver and corner, and the talk from camp is that he will focus more on the defensive side of the ball primarily. Still, look to see Hunter on offense from time to time, as fans were excited to see him in the offense colors during camp.
The excitement around the franchise has also spread throughout the fan base. Mandatory minicamp drew enthusiastic crowds, and supporters have openly expressed championship-level expectations for the upcoming season.
Another reason for optimism is the schedule. Analysts have noted that Jacksonville faces one of the more favorable schedules in the league, and several projections have the Jaguars finishing with double-digit victories once again.
Of course, high expectations also bring pressure. The Jaguars will no longer sneak up on opponents. Every week, they will receive each team’s best effort. Handling those expectations and maintaining consistency will be critical if Jacksonville hopes to turn regular-season success into playoff victories.
Key losses in free agency also present question marks for the team, who were not incredibly active in free agency.
Departures:
Travis Etienne, RB: Signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the New Orleans Saints.
Devin Lloyd, LB: Signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Carolina Panthers.
Greg Newsome II, CB: Signed with the New York Giants.
Andrew Wingard, S: Signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
Additions:
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB): Signed a two-year, $10 million deal (with $6.2 million fully guaranteed). The former Washington Commander provides backfield depth under head coach Liam Coen.
Key Re-Signings:
Montaric Brown (CB): Retained on a three-year contract extension worth $31.8 million.
Still, the belief inside the organization and throughout Northeast Florida is undeniable. The Jaguars have assembled a talented roster, possess stability in the coaching staff, and feature a franchise quarterback entering his prime.
For the first time in a long time, Jaguars fans are not simply hoping for a winning season.
They’re expecting one.
And in Jacksonville, the conversation has shifted from “Can the Jaguars compete?” to “How far can they go?”
Featured Image by Christian Schultz
