Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars (Jags for short) are a National Football League team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars, along with the Carolina Panthers, joined the NFL as 1995 expansion teams.

Franchise history

Welcome to the NFL: 1991-1993

On November 30, 1993, in what was a major suprise, the Jacksonville Jaguars were selected as the NFL's 30th franchise. The selection of Jacksonville was the culmination of years of efforts and was especially astounding considering that, barely four months previous, Jacksonville's hopes had appeared completely dead.

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For decades, Jacksonville had earned a reputation of being a good football town, hospitable for both college and pro football. Every year the city hosts the Gator Bowl, an annual civic highlight traditionally accompanied by parties, ceremonies, parades and other events leading up to the game. The annual University of Georgia vs. University of Florida game is also played in Jacksonville. Additionally, the Jacksonville University Sharks also fields a varsity football team, occasionally playing their home games at the Gator Bowl.

Related Topics:
Gator Bowl - University of Georgia - University of Florida - Jacksonville University

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A permanent Gator Bowl stadium was erected, which also made the city a target for professional franchises. In addition to hosting short-lived teams in both the World Football League and the United States Football League and the occasional NFL exhibition game, the city briefly attempted to lure the Houston Oilers to move to Jacksonville at one point in the late 1980's. Great efforts were made to lure the Oilers, including the creation of a "Jacksonville Oilers" banner and designation of a specific section of the Gator Bowl as a non-alcohol, family section for proposed home games. Though the efforts proved unsuccessful, it did serve as a launching pad for the city's attempt to gain an NFL expansion team.

Related Topics:
World Football League - United States Football League - Houston Oilers

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In 1991 the NFL made a decision to expand the league by two teams, originally in time for the 1993 season. The league had not expanded since the 1976 season with the addition of Seattle and Tampa Bay and with the sport growing the NFL felt the time was right to add additional franchises. Five cities were ultimately chosen as finalists for the two new teams: Charlotte, NC, St. Louis, MO, Baltimore, MD, Memphis, TN and Jacksonville. From the beginning, Charlotte and St. Louis were considered the heavy favorites to win, with Baltimore also a strong possibility. Though not as strong a bid, Memphis was still considered an outside possibility, as the NFL did not have a presence in the area.

Related Topics:
Seattle - Tampa Bay - Charlotte, NC - St. Louis, MO - Baltimore, MD - Memphis, TN

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For many reasons, Jacksonville was considered the darkest horse in the field. In addition to the fact that Florida already had two teams (including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who played about a three-hour ride away), and that an expansion team would have to compete with existing college and pro football interests - the Jacksonville bid was mired in turmoil and conflict throughout the process. The original group that had applied for the franchise in 1991 - which included future Governor Jeb Bush - was ultimately replaced by a group called Touchdown Jacksonville! led by J. Wayne Weaver, shoe magnate and founder of 9 West.

Related Topics:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jeb Bush - Touchdown Jacksonville! - J. Wayne Weaver - 9 West

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From the time that Touchdown Jacksonville! took over the bid, they face several challenges. In April, the NFL indicated to Jacksonville officials that additional renovations to the Gator Bowl on top of what had already been committed would be needed. After several weeks of negotiations, and at least one breakdown, an agreement was reached that capped the city's liability for construction and was sent to the City Council for approval. However, on July 21, 1993, the Council failed to approve the financing package, dooming the bid. Deposits on season tickets were refunded, and Touchdown Jacksonville!'s offices were shuttered.

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Largely due to being underwhelmed by the remaining suitors, the NFL and others encouraged Jacksonville interests to revisit the issue and resurrect their bid. About a month later negotiations between the city and Touchdown Jacksonville! resumed, and a slightly revised aid package was approved by a solid majority of the City Council. Officially back in the race, Jacksonville officials were energized, indicated by a drive to sell club seats that resulted in over 10,000 seats being sold in 10 days. The Jaguars also gained a high-profile investor when former NFL star player Deron Cherry signed on as a limited partner.

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After Charlotte was granted the 29th franchise in October, the NFL announced they would name the 30th franchise on or before November 30, 1993. By this time, conventional wisdom was that St. Louis would get the 30th franchise. In fact, so sure were some in St. Louis that the franchise would be granted that T-shirts of the "St. Louis Stallions" (the proposed new team name) briefly went on sale at some St. Louis area sporting goods shops. However, it was not meant to be, as late on the afternoon of November 30th, Jacksonville was announced as the winning franchise. (Interestingly, St. Louis and Baltimore would gain relocated NFL franchises in 1995 and 1996, respectively.)

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Shortly thereafter a rally was held where, among other things, the team's nickname was announced and the teams uniforms unveiled. The team's original uniforms stirred some controversy. Originally the team's primary colors were teal, gold, and silver with black accents. The team's logo was a silver helmet with a leaping jaguar. This caught the attention of Ford Motor Company, parent of the automaker Jaguar, in that the Jaguars' logo (which also appeared on the team's sleeves) was almost an exact copy of the automaker's logo, which was also used as a hood ornament. Though no lawsuit was brought to trial, an amicable agreement was ultimately reached where Jaguar would be named the official car of the Jaguars, and the Jaguars would redesign their uniforms. The new uniforms featured an all-black helmet and a prominent Jaguars head with a teal tongue, as well as redesigned jerseys and pants (a prowling jaguar replaced the leaping jaguar on the sleeves.) Most people actually preferred the newer uniforms to the original design.

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After the Gator Bowl on January 3, 1994, work commenced on renovations to the Gator Bowl, which would need to be completed prior to the start of the 1995 season. In fact, the renovation was essentially the construction of a new stadium, as much of the original stadium (except one of the upper decks) was demolished. The stadium would be completed on time and hosted its first preseason NFL game on August 18, 1995. (For 1994 and 1995, Georgia and Florida alternated home games in their series, resuming the neutral-site matchups in Jacksonville in 1996.)

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On the Field: 1995-2005

In 1995, along with the Carolina Panthers, the Jacksonville Jaguars entered the NFL as the first expansion teams in almost 20 years. The Jaguars finished their inaugural season with a record of 4-12. During this inaugural season many of the players who would lead Jacksonville to early successes began establishing themselves, including quarterback Mark Brunell (obtained in a trade with Green Bay), offensive lineman Tony Boselli (drafted with the 2nd pick overall in the 1995 NFL Draft, running back James Stewart (drafted in 1995), and wide receiver Jimmy Smith (signed as a free agent).

Related Topics:
1995 - Carolina Panthers - NFL - Mark Brunell - Tony Boselli - 1995 NFL Draft - Jimmy Smith

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Jacksonville's 1996 season was a marked success. They won their last seven games of the season and finished with a record of 9-7, earning the 5th seed in the AFC. Their first playoff game would be against the Buffalo Bills at Buffalo, a game that the Jaguars would win 30-27. Their next game would be against the Denver Broncos, top seed in the AFC and a team that, with a 13-3 record, had dominated the AFC. Yet the Jaguars, unintimated by the Broncos or their fans, largely dominated from the second quarter on, with a late Mark Brunell to Jimmy Smith touchdown giving the Jags a 30-20 lead late. They would hold on to win in what was a huge upset, 30-27, in a game that many people still consider the franchise's finest hour. Upon their return home the Jags were greeted by an estimated 40,000 fans at the airport. In the AFC Championship Game, the Jaguars would acquit themselves very well, playing a tight and close defensive game in a hostile environment for over three quarters before finally losing, 20-6 to the New England Patriots.

Related Topics:
1996 - New England Patriots

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In December 1998, the Jaguars won the AFC Central Division and became the first NFL expansion team to make the playoffs three times in its first four seasons of play.

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The 1999 season was quite a success for the Jacksonville Jaguars as they compiled a record of 14-2, which was the best regular season record in the NFL for that year. In the January 2000 AFC Divisional playoffs, the Jaguars flattened the Miami Dolphins 62-7 in what turned out to be Dan Marino and Jimmy Johnson's last NFL game. Jacksonville's 62 points and 55-point margin are the second most ever in NFL playoff history, and Fred Taylor's 90-yard run is the longest ever in an NFL playoff game. Yet the Jaguars would be denied again in the AFC championship game - this time as the favorite - as they would be defeated by the Tennessee Titans 33-14 in a game the Titans dominated throughout. The Jaguars would thus finish the 1999 season 15-3, with all three of their losses coming against the Titans.

Related Topics:
1999 - 2000 - Miami Dolphins - Dan Marino - Jimmy Johnson - Fred Taylor - Tennessee Titans

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Following their defeat in the AFC Championship Game, the team's fortunes declined as players left due to the team's poor salary cap position. The years 2000-2002 all featured losing records and in January of 2003, the Jaguars fired head coach Tom Coughlin and replaced him with former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.

Related Topics:
Tom Coughlin - Carolina Panthers - Jack Del Rio

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The 2004 season resulted in a winning record of 9-7 with a highlight coming on December 19th in a win against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field). The Jaguars' defense was a strong suit, young quarterback Byron Leftwich enjoyed a solid year and holdovers Fred Taylor and Jimmy Smith also had strong performances. A late-season defeat by the Houston Texans would eliminate the Jaguars from the playoffs, thus denying them an opportunity to play the Super Bowl at their home stadium (the Super Bowl in February 2005 being the first the Jaguars, and Jacksonville, hosted).

Related Topics:
Green Bay Packers - Lambeau Field - Byron Leftwich - Fred Taylor - Jimmy Smith - Houston Texans - Super Bowl

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Season-by-season