The phrase “It was always the Jags” refers to the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and their reputation for being one of the league’s perennially underperforming teams. Though the franchise has experienced some successes, including two AFC Championship appearances, the Jags are more known for their long stretches of futility and losing seasons. So when something goes wrong for the team, fans and pundits alike just shrug and say, “Well, it was always the Jags.” But where does this sentiment come from and is it a fair characterization of the team?
A Brief History of Losing
The Jacksonville Jaguars entered the NFL as an expansion team in 1995 along with the Carolina Panthers. As a new franchise, they were expected to struggle in their early years while building a roster and identity. The Jags went 4-12 in their inaugural season and then 9-7 in their second year, making a surprise run all the way to the AFC Championship game. This Cinderella debut for the team behind stars like Mark Brunell and Tony Boselli gave fans hope that Jacksonville could be competitive right away.
However, after some up and down seasons in the late 90s, the Jaguars began a stretch of losing and mediocrity in the early 2000s that reinforced their reputation as underachievers. From 2003 to 2012, the team did not post a single winning record and won six or fewer games in nine of those ten seasons. Their overall record during that decade of futility was a miserable 49-105.
| Season | Record |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 5-11 |
| 2004 | 9-7 |
| 2005 | 12-4 |
| 2006 | 8-8 |
| 2007 | 11-5 |
| 2008 | 5-11 |
This consistent losing made “It’s the Jags” a common refrain when discussing the team’s miscues and misfortunes. Their struggles were attributed to everything from poor drafting and development of talent to a lack of fan support in their small market. Regardless of the reasons, the narrative was set – the Jaguars were one of the NFL’s basement dwellers.
Flashes of Success and Hope
Though the Jaguars have yet to post consecutive winning seasons in their history, they have intermittently flashed potential amidst the losing. In 2005, behind a high-scoring offense led by quarterback Byron Leftwich and running back Fred Taylor, the team went 12-4 and made the playoffs before losing in the wild card round.
In 2007, Jacksonville compiled an 11-5 record under head coach Jack Del Rio. Powered by running back Maurice Jones-Drew’s league leading 1,606 rushing yards, the Jags won their first playoff game since their AFC Championship run before falling to the then-undefeated New England Patriots in the divisional round.
Most recently, behind a ferocious defense in 2017, the Jags went 10-6 to win their first division title since 1999. Young defensive stars like Calais Campbell, Jalen Ramsey, and Telvin Smith led Jacksonville back to the AFC Championship game, where they held a fourth quarter lead before losing to Tom Brady’s Patriots yet again.
Recent Struggles and a Rebuild
Following their return to relevance in 2017, the Jaguars regressed mightily the next two seasons, posting consecutive 5-11 campaigns in 2018 and 2019. Long-time quarterback Blake Bortles continued his up and down play before being released. High priced free agents like quarterback Nick Foles brought optimism but failed to pan out. With a lack of development of young talent, the team needed to hit reset.
They’ve done just that since 2020, tearing down the veteran roster and embarking on a full rebuild. Former college coaching legend Urban Meyer was brought in to lead the new era in 2021, though his tenure was brief and controversial. Now under the leadership of new head coach Doug Pederson, the Jaguars landed the #1 pick in 2021 and selected franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence to right the ship.
With Lawrence, receiver Christian Kirk, and edge rusher Travon Walker imported via free agency and the draft, there is hope once again in Jacksonville. Progress will take time, however, and struggles are still expected in the short term. But the Jags seem to finally have a real plan in place to assemble a winner.
Why the Losing History?
So with the context of the Jaguars’ up and down history established, why have they ultimately been associated with losing and ineptitude? There are several plausible factors:
– Expansion team growing pains – Like many expansion teams, it took time to build an organization and culture from the ground up. Mistakes in talent evaluation set them back early.
– Instability at head coach and GM – Jack Del Rio’s nearly nine year tenure brought some stability as coach. But the team has otherwise lacked sustained leadership to execute a long-term vision.
– Missing on high draft picks – Many top 5 picks like Blaine Gabbert and Justin Blackmon flamed out, crippling roster building.
– Small market disadvantages – Jacksonville is one of the NFL’s smallest markets, making it difficult to attract free agents and build a fanbase.
– Quarterback woes – From Byron Leftwich to Blake Bortles, the team has lacked a franchise passer to build around for sustained success.
The Future is Brighter
While mocking the Jaguars for their losing history has been popular, the reality is the team seems to finally have real potential for the future. With Trevor Lawrence looking like a franchise quarterback, a respected coach in Doug Pederson, and great draft capital the next few years, Jacksonville could be on the upswing. Their rock bottom rebuild may be setting the stage for sustainable success.
It has been easy to dismiss the Jaguars over the year with a “same old Jags” attitude. But with time and the right leadership, the team could very well alter their reputation in the coming seasons. The future may be the brightest it’s been for the Jags since those early successful years.
Conclusion
In summary, the sentiments around the Jaguars being perpetual bottom-dwellers are largely earned based on their lengthy history of losing and struggling to sustain success since becoming a franchise in 1995. A lack of stability in leadership, quarterback play, and drafting/developing talent all contributed to the struggles. But there are signs pointing to a potential turnaround with new coach Doug Pederson, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and strong draft positioning. While it may take time, the days of scoffing “it’s the Jags” could be numbered if the latest rebuild takes hold. The team has too much talent and potential not to finally put it all together.
