NFL

The Jacksonville Jaguars had their first season in 1995 but long before the opening season a campaign to bring a NFL franchise took place. Tom Petway was a major influence on getting the 30^th franchise to Jacksonville which started all the way back in 1989. Jacksonville was one of eleven cities to be home to the next NFL team but was considered a long shot for the to receive that coveted team. Touchdown Jacksonville! was a partnership that played a serious role in getting the team. Sixty million dollars was given to renovate the Gator Bowl where Jacksonville could play there games until a new stadium was built. After back and forth talks about the renovations and where the money would come from to do so, in 1993 the franchise was award to Jacksonville making them the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars played there first game at Canton, Ohio, home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, against another NFL expansion team the Carolina Panthers.The first Jaguar season produced a 4-12 record besting the previous record of 3-13 for a expansion franchise in its first season. With free agents and the expansion drafts allowed the Jaguars to become a better football team more quickly then in previous years. Jacksonville played in two AFC Championship games, in 1996 losing to the New England Patriots, and 1999 losing to the Tennessee Titans. Despite the lost in the AFC Championship game in 1996, the season was a success because they beat the top seeded Denver Broncos who had a league best 13-3 record. Their best season was a record of 14-2 in 1999 winning the AFC Central, now called the AFC South. The Jaguars worst season came in their first. Winning the division twice in 1998&1999 gave the Jaguars legitimacy among fellow AFC teams that they have to be taken seriously.

There have been a few good players for the Jaguars in the very brief history including quarterback Mark Brunell. Brunell was a three time Pro Bowl selection and was the teams first quarterback in their inaugural season. Brunell was an efficient quarterback who threw for a good percentage but also was a very good runner scrambling away from defenders. In the Jaguars first four seasons they made the playoffs three times making them the first NFL franchise to accomplish that. Also wide receiver Jimmy Smith and Mark Brunell would frequently make connections in the end zone and made of the more formidable tandems in the league.

With perennial power in the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South, the Jaguars have a difficult task overtaking the Colts. Not making the playoffs for five consecutive years from 2000-2004, the Jaguars are looking to rebound and become contenders once again as they were in the first few years in the league. The AFC is a difficult league to come out of, young talented players such as quarterback David Garrard, full back Fred Taylor, and running back Maurice Jones-Drew have a terrific upside and should only improve threatening other AFC opponents for supremacy. The Jacksonville Jaguars have accomplished many things but the Super Bowl championship still is something left for them to grab.