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 Jacksonville
Jaguars, professional football team and one of six teams in the
Central Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) of
the National Football League (NFL). Under the league’s
realignment plan, which will take affect in 2002, the Jaguars
will play in the South Division of the AFC. The Jaguars play at
ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, and wear uniforms of
teal, black, and gold. Jacksonville joined the NFL as an
expansion team in 1995. During the Jaguars’ first year, the team
fielded the AFC’s worst defense, losing nine games by more than
24 points. Offensively, however, they were successful.
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Mark Brunell—who had previously played
in only two NFL games—posted the highest
rating of any expansion-team quarterback
in league history. He also led all NFL
quarterbacks that year in rushing,
becoming the first AFC quarterback to
run for more than 400 yards in a season
since Mike Pagel of the Baltimore Colts
(now Indianapolis Colts) in 1983.
Overall, Jacksonville’s offensive
performance ranked third all-time among
first-year franchises. In 1996 the
Jaguars won nine games and earned a
wild-card berth to the playoffs. Wide
receivers Keenan McCardell and Jimmy
Smith each compiled 1,000 or more yards
receiving. Brunell passed for more than
4,300 yards and was Jacksonville’s
third-leading rusher, averaging five
yards per carry and scoring three
touchdowns. |
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In
the playoffs the Jaguars advanced to the AFC
title game, where they lost to the New
England Patriots. Jacksonville advanced to
the playoffs again in 1997 but lost in the
first round to the Denver Broncos. In 1998
Brunell and rookie running back Fred Taylor
led the team to a 11-5 win-loss record and
the Central Division championship. They
defeated the New England Patriots in the
first round of the playoffs before being
bested by the New York Jets. In 1999
Jacksonville repeated as Central Division
champions but lost to the Tennessee Titans
in the AFC Championship Game. The Jaguars
have never played in the Super Bowl.
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