Leadership and Coordinators
- Owner: Shad Khan Khan’s 2025 reset produced immediate results: a division championship and the best regular-season record in franchise history. The task now is sustaining that breakthrough while stadium construction reshapes the club’s short-term home schedule.
- Decision Maker: James Gladstone — General Manager Gladstone’s first year paired an aggressive roster rebuild with a new coaching staff and a 13-win season. His 2026 approach leaned more heavily on internal development, trades and a large draft class.
- Head Coach: Liam Coen Coen modernized the offense and helped Trevor Lawrence play the best football of his career. Year 2 is about turning regular-season command into a playoff win and keeping the team’s late-season edge.
- Offensive Coordinator: Grant Udinski Udinski works within Coen’s offense, coordinating a scheme built on formation variation, play action and Lawrence’s ability to attack every level. The reworked line and backfield create new teaching challenges.
- Defensive Coordinator: Anthony Campanile Campanile’s first Jacksonville defense became elite against the run and one of the league’s best at producing takeaways. Reducing explosive passes is the clearest area for growth.
- Special Teams Coordinator: Heath Farwell Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Farwell’s units supplied dependable hidden yardage throughout the 2025 surge. He also carries an associate-head-coach role, reflecting his broader influence on Coen’s program.
2025 Season Recap
Jacksonville’s 2025 season transformed the direction of the franchise. In the first year under Liam Coen and James Gladstone, the Jaguars went 13–4, won the AFC South and set a franchise record with 474 points. They closed the regular season on an eight-game winning streak and earned the AFC’s No. 3 seed. A 27–24 wild-card loss to Buffalo ended the run abruptly, but the larger result was unmistakable: Jacksonville moved from instability to legitimate contention in one season.
Trevor Lawrence made the transformation possible. Coen gave him clearer answers before the snap, encouraged controlled aggression and leaned into his athleticism. Lawrence played with greater command as the season progressed and entered the league’s major-award conversation. His late-season football was especially convincing. Rather than merely managing a talented roster, he drove an offense that could score in bunches, recover from mistakes and finish tight games.
The supporting cast evolved around him. Travis Etienne Jr. produced 1,107 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns, supplying both explosive runs and receiving value. Brian Thomas Jr. remained a dangerous vertical weapon, while Jakobi Meyers became a reliable route winner after arriving during the season. Young players also expanded the offense’s options. Bhayshul Tuten brought speed to the backfield, Jonah Monheim developed on the line and two-way star Travis Hunter remained a unique long-term piece even though injury interrupted his rookie season.
Jacksonville finished sixth in the league in scoring at 27.9 points per game. The offense’s best stretches were not empty production against weak opponents. The Jaguars won at San Francisco, beat Kansas City in a dramatic Monday night game and went to Denver late in the season for a 34–20 victory. Those results demonstrated that Coen’s team could carry its style into difficult environments and beat opponents with championship expectations.
Campanile’s defense made equally important progress. Jacksonville finished first against the run and second in takeaways, a dramatic change from the previous year. Devin Lloyd produced five interceptions and earned second-team All-Pro honors. Josh Hines-Allen remained the front’s central pressure threat, while Travon Walker’s power and versatility gave the defense another way to disrupt protections. The secondary generated plays on the ball, with Antonio Johnson also recording five interceptions.
The weakness was pass defense. Jacksonville finished 21st against the pass and surrendered too many explosive completions when communication or leverage failed. That issue became decisive in the playoffs. Against Buffalo, the Jaguars traded scores and held a late lead, but Josh Allen repeatedly created answers under pressure. Jacksonville could not prevent the Bills’ final touchdown drive, and Lawrence’s late interception sealed a 27–24 defeat.
The loss was painful because the Jaguars had earned the right to expect more than a competitive wild-card game. They were not a fluke division winner; they had won 13 games, beaten quality opponents and played their best football down the stretch. Yet the playoff exit also provided a precise offseason agenda. Jacksonville needed more reliable pass protection, younger depth at several defensive spots and a secondary capable of limiting the one or two explosive plays that decide postseason games.
The 2026 roster reflects both confidence and transition. Etienne, Lloyd, Andrew Wingard and Greg Newsome II departed, creating significant openings. Gladstone responded with a ten-player draft class, targeted veteran additions and several summer trades rather than attempting to replace every player with a high-profile signing. The Jaguars enter 2026 with Lawrence established, Coen’s system validated and a talented young core. Their challenge is proving that 13 wins were the beginning of a durable window—not a peak the franchise will spend years chasing.
2025 AFC South Standing
- 1. Jacksonville Jaguars — 13–4 (5–1 division) — Lost WC PF: 474 · PA: 336
- 2. Houston Texans — 12–5 (5–1 division) — Lost DR PF: 404 · PA: 295
- 3. Indianapolis Colts — 8–9 (2–4 division) — Missed Playoffs PF: 466 · PA: 412
- 4. Tennessee Titans — 3–14 (0–6 division) — Missed Playoffs PF: 284 · PA: 478
Jacksonville needed nearly every one of its 13 wins to hold off Houston. The Jaguars’ division-best offense and 5–1 AFC South record gave them the tiebreaking separation in one of the NFL’s strongest two-team races.
Notable 2026 Player Additions
- RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. Rodriguez is a decisive, physical runner familiar with Coen from Kentucky. He helps replace Etienne’s early-down work while Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. handle complementary roles.
- DT Ruke Orhorhoro (trade, Falcons) Orhorhoro adds interior athleticism and developmental upside. Jacksonville needs his penetration to support a front that was excellent against the run but less consistent creating inside pressure.
- OL Daniel Faalele (trade, Giants) Faalele brings exceptional size and experience at tackle and guard. He strengthens a line that had to adjust repeatedly during training camp.
- QB Quinn Ewers (trade, Dolphins) Ewers arrived at roster cutdown to become Lawrence’s young backup. His arm talent gives the staff a developmental option behind an established starter.
- CB Dane Jackson Jackson offers veteran outside-corner experience to a secondary that lost Newsome and dealt with camp injuries. His ability to play disciplined zone coverage will determine the size of his role.
- OL Trystan Colon Colon can cover all three interior positions and gives Jacksonville important game-day flexibility behind a changing starting five.
Notable 2026 Player Losses
- RB Travis Etienne Jr. Etienne led Jacksonville with 1,107 rushing yards and scored 13 total touchdowns in 2025. Replacing his complete three-down production requires a committee rather than one direct substitute.
- LB Devin Lloyd Lloyd’s five interceptions, coverage range and second-team All-Pro season leave a major playmaking void in the middle of Campanile’s defense.
- S Andrew Wingard Wingard started 16 games, finished second on the team in tackles and served as one of the secondary’s most trusted communicators. Younger safeties must replace his reliability.
- CB Greg Newsome II Newsome stabilized an outside corner spot after arriving during the 2025 season. His departure increases the importance of internal development and Jackson’s veteran snaps.
- TE Johnny Mundt Mundt’s receiving totals were modest, but his blocking and six starts gave the offense useful personnel flexibility. The rookie tight ends now inherit those supporting duties.
2026 Draft Class
- Round 2, Pick 56 — TE Nate Boerkircher, Texas A&M A long, athletic two-way tight end who can help replace Mundt’s blocking role and develop into a larger receiving threat.
- Round 3, Pick 81 — DT Albert Regis, Texas A&M A powerful interior defender suited to early downs. His ability to occupy blockers should protect Jacksonville’s linebackers.
- Round 3, Pick 88 — G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon A polished, experienced guard who worked with the starters late in camp. His pass-protection technique gives him a chance to contribute immediately.
- Round 3, Pick 100 — S Jalen Huskey, Maryland A rangy defensive back with the versatility to play deep safety or match receivers. He is part of the plan to replace Wingard’s snaps.
- Round 4, Pick 119 — EDGE Wesley Williams, Duke A long edge defender who can set the run and develop as a rotational power rusher.
- Round 5, Pick 164 — TE Tanner Koziol, Houston A productive college receiver who gives Coen another movable target for multiple-tight-end packages.
- Round 6, Pick 191 — WR Josh Cameron, Baylor A big-bodied receiver with contested-catch and red-zone potential competing for a supporting role.
- Round 6, Pick 203 — WR CJ Williams, Stanford An experienced route runner whose size and alignment flexibility fit Jacksonville’s formation-heavy offense.
- Round 7, Pick 233 — EDGE Zach Durfee, Washington A high-motor rusher who begins the season on injured reserve with a designation to return.
- Round 7, Pick 240 — LB Parker Hughes, Middle Tennessee State A productive tackler whose immediate path runs through special teams and assignment-sound reserve work.
2026 Spotlight Watch
- Hot Seat — Trevor Lawrence Lawrence is not fighting for his job; he is carrying a contender’s expectations. After an award-caliber regular season, the next standard is protecting the ball and finishing a playoff game when Jacksonville has a late opportunity.
- Breakout Watch — Bhayshul Tuten Etienne’s departure opens meaningful backfield work. Tuten’s acceleration can change angles quickly, and improved patience and pass protection would make him much more than a change-of-pace runner.
- Bust Watch — Dane Jackson Jacksonville needs steadiness at outside corner, but Jackson has not consistently held a full-time starting role. If his technique breaks down against vertical routes or injuries interrupt his season, the secondary’s biggest 2025 weakness may persist.
- Team Superstar — Trevor Lawrence Lawrence’s command changed the offense’s ceiling in 2025. His arm talent, mobility and growing pre-snap control make him the player most capable of turning Jacksonville’s strong roster into a sustained championship threat.
Prediction
The Jaguars face some regression in 2026, but finish with double digit wins by going 10-7 and finishing in 3rd place in the AFC South. That makes them the second team in the division to miss the playoffs,
Below is the complete 2026 regular season projections.
Sources
- NFL: Final 2025 division standings
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2025 fourth-quarter season review
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Final analysis of the 2025 season
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Front office
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2026 free agency tracker
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2026 draft review
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Initial 2026 roster
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2026 transactions
